去年今日正值區議會大選,氣氛高漲反映居民仍對制度抱有信心;然而一年過後,中共、肺炎夾擊香港,香港面臨前所未有的制度崩壞。區議員的任務、定位一直在變,不變的只有我們對民主抗爭的決心。
立會DQ以後,區議員成為全港民意基礎最高的政治人物,推動社區民主是我們最大任務。民主不是口號,我們陸續在各區籌辦參與式活動,讓居民於日常生活中體現民主。
參與式是直接民主、審議民主的一種,居民與區議員可以親身互動,共同協作出真正貼近民意的方案。居民在過程入面充權,認識到自己權利及民主價值,未來才會堅拒獨裁,有動力長遠抗爭。
民主不是一二人的事,無論我們籌辦幾多活動,最重要仍然是居民大家參與。當選一週年之際,我們發動社區線,邀請大家在生活中實現民主,參加我們籌辦的社區活動,發揮區議會制度內最大抗爭力量!
Last year today was the polling day for the District Council Election. The anticipated atmosphere showed that the residents still had confidence in the system. However, one year passed, the CCP and COVID-19 strike Hong Kong together. Hong Kong is now facing the system collapse which we never experienced before. The duties and positioning of the district councillors have been changing. What remains unchanged is our determination to strive for democracy.
After the expulsion of pro-democracy lawmakers from the Legislative Council, the district councillors have become the political figures with the highest public opinion foundation in Hong Kong. So, promoting community democracy is our immense task. Democracy is not a slogan. We have helped to organise participatory activities in different districts in succession. The event can allow residents to experience democracy in their daily lives.
‘Participatory’ is a form of direct and deliberative democracy. Residents can have face to face interactions with district councillors and work collaboratively with them to come up with a solution which bases on public opinion. The empowerment residents go through during the process can let them realise their rights and learn more about democratic values. From this can they say NO firmly to dictatorship in the future and have the motivation to carry on the fight in the long run.
Democracy is not the business of one or two persons. No matter how many activities we hold, most importantly is the participation of residents. We are kicking off the Community Front on the first anniversary of the election. We invite all of you to exercise democracy in real life, and participate in the community activities we coordinate, to maximise the resisting power within the district council system!