A roundup of online political cartoons and Weibo comments on Beijing’s August 31 announcement of rules for Hong Kong’s 2017 election of chief executive, and Macau’s “election” of chief executive during the same weekend.
On August 31, Beijing announced its decision on the 2017 election of Hong Kong’s chief executive—the promised “universal suffrage” will be granted in 2017 and beyond, extolled state-run media, but the electable candidates will be limited to those approved by a pro-Beijing committee. Just prior to the announcement, as pro-democracy activists were gearing up for fresh protests, armored vehicles were spotted patrolling Kowloon, much to the alarm of residents. One netizen’s quip was deleted and archived by FreeWeibo:
此岸江山: Hong Kong said, “We want universal suffrage.” Then someone said “I’ll provide the candidates, you can come to vote.” Hong Kong said, “We want true universal suffrage.” Then someone said, “If I provide you with a single candidate, is there any chance you’ll choose him?” Hong Kong said, “We want citizen nomination.” Someone said “How about we continue with the old method of selection.” Hong Kong said “You’re shameless.” Someone said “What did you say? The sounds of the tanks in the background are too loud, I couldn’t hear you.” [Source]
香港说，我要普选。某说，我出候选人，你们来普选。香港说，我要真普选。某说,我出一个候选人，你们选不选?香港说，我们要公民提名。某说，要不还是按老办法选。香港说，你无耻。某说，你说什么？后面坦克声音大，我听不见
(Rebel Pepper 变态辣椒）
In this Rebel Pepper cartoon, a Chinese official (who bears a resemblance to President Xi Jinping) holds two red puppets up from behind the controls of his tank, beckoning an Occupy Central activist to choose between the identical candidates: “Come, choose one. But, choose wisely.” The character for “Party” (党) is barely visible behind stickers reading “Democratic Faction” (民主派). In the background, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou and Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chair Tsai Ing-wen shield themselves from encroaching mainland influence with a DPP flag. President Ma Ying-jeou has publicly offered his support for universal suffrage in Hong Kong, and ties between activists from HK and Taiwan have recently been gaining strength.
As Beijing was preparing to deliver its decision on Hong Kong, an election was underway in Macau for the similarly semi-autonomous region’s chief executive. Incumbent Fernando Chui won, hands down, garnering 380 of 396 votes cast by the region’s election committee—an unsurprising feat considering he was the sole candidate running. Following the lead of Hong Kong activists, Macau held an unofficial referendum on democracy last week after the arrests of organizing activists delayed the poll earlier this summer. The results showed that 89% of the 9,000 participants have little trust in their recently re-elected chief executive.
马志尼: A: Wanna hear a joke? B: Sure. A: Macau had an election. B: Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
甲：跟你说个笑话。 乙：啥笑话？ 甲：澳门特首选举。 乙：哈哈哈哈哈。。。[Source]
滴墨渐成殇2: Macau elected its chief executive this morning, and the sole candidate, Fernando Chui, won another term in office by a landslide. Ten or so people knelt in the street to protest the election as undemocratic. Only by using fear to create servility were they able to hold this illegal [election]. So they knelt in Macau just like they knelt in the enemy-occupied territory [Hong Kong]. You who should be your own masters: when you kneel, you have already lost the courage to disdain them. When I saw this, all I could think was: Macau has already fallen to the enemy.
澳门今天上午举行特首选举，崔世安作为唯一候选人高票连任。十几个澳门市民当街下跪抗议选举不民主，在小圈子内进行。它们一直用恐惧制造奴性，才得以维持它们非法的存在。澳门人和沦陷区难民一样跪下了。本应是主人的你，在跪下这一刻，已经失去了傲视它们的血性。看到这一幕，我只想说：澳门沦陷了。[Source]
“One-man Boxing Match” (Rebel Pepper 变态辣椒）
