Joshua Wong Chi-fung on hunger strike
Mama, the birthday dinner I owe you.【媽媽，我欠你的生日飯。】
It is Mama’s birthday on 30 Nov (Sunday). On the eve I told Mama, “Mama, apology, I am not able to celebrate your birthday, we shall take action that day, I need to stay overnight in Admiralty, let’s postpone the birthday celebration to 1 Dec.” Because of the hunger strike, this celebration will further be postponed.
As the Umbrella Movement goes on, I rarely meet my family, my tent in Admiralty becomes my second home, I feel bit alienated about my home. Every time I go home to get my clothes, my parents either fall asleep or go to work. Even we meet each other, I am too tired and fall asleep after few chats. We only communicate via Whatsapp. I miss my old days with my family having suppers and tea, and hazily recall the moments when the whole family had dinner together.
When we discussed the representatives for hunger strike, my only concern was Mama’s birthday dinner, I worried about not knowing when we could dine together again if I miss it this time. In fact, I barely dine with my family since the Movement; for the hunger strike, I am not afraid of the sense of hunger, but worry about growing alienated from my family.
Having said that, I made this decision of having the hunger strike with Prince Wong Ji-yuet and Isabella Lo Yin-wai,, because as the convenor I bear this responsibility, and should not let two girls conduct the hunger strike themselves. I have a responsibility to walk together with every student of Scholarism, regardless his or her title or duty. More importantly, we cannot let go of the Umbrella Movement.
Though the hunger strike does not bring great impact, and I know clearly that it cannot rock the regime, it cannot make the National People's Congress Standing Committee withdraw its decision, I still cannot reconcile myself to getting nothing from the Umbrella Movement. I feel helpless having no reward; while I am not able to bear the risk of being arrested again, I do not plan to occupy indefinitely. When there is growing roar of clearance, I can only shout to the regime with my body, and call for my comrades who once put up their umbrellas, to recall their forgotten original intention, which is not the debate on police power, which is not the battle between blue (ribbon) and yellow (ribbon), but the political problem caused by the authority hiding behind ribbons and police batons, which should be resolved in political means via dialogues.
The demand of having dialogues on “re-launching political reform immediately” is not unreasonable at all. This demand does not associate directly with the decision of NPCSC, and does not breach the Basic Law. We only demand the Hong Kong government, which uses “NPCSC decision” to ban the demands of “civil nomination” and “abolition of functional constituency”, to face up to the problems of Hong Kong via re-launching the political reform process – which is within the authority and responsibility of Hong Kong government, to re-start all the consultation, decision, and procedure, so that the Umbrella Movement can find its opportunity and hope.
It is a humble demand asking for dialogues. Through the hunger strike we try every effort to reap rewards in the Movement with our comrades. I just want my Mama to understand my decision. I recall that when I told you over the phone about the hunger strike, you did not criticize, you did not query, you just subtly said “I understand. I wait for you to celebrate my birthday Joshua”. I felt guilty, and apologised many times. You ask me to take more rest and go online less often, but I still want to openly thank you and father for understanding and supporting me. I have quick tongue and am rational, I am not used to saying things like this, but I really want to say to Mama: I love you.
The day CY Leung has dialogue with students will be the day I have birthday celebration with Mama. I shall firmly remember what you said, to have more rest and prayers during the hunger strike. Allow me to conclude: I am thankful for and proud of my parents.
Joshua Wong
23th hour upon hunger strike
(Original text 20141202【媽媽，我欠你的生日飯。】)
(Translator: Few editing of the original text was made. Let me know any translation mistakes. Please help spread out Joshua’s message to anyone you know via every means. Thanks.)