San Francisco Flies Chinese Flag At City Hall As Thousands Protest In Hong Kong
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The city of San Francisco, which has always been known to support human rights causes worldwide, was flying the flag of the People's Republic of China at City Hall just as tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong were protesting against the Chinese government.
As in previous years, Mayor Ed Lee hoisted the China's flag Wednesday outside City Hall to mark China's National Day, which marks the 65th anniversary of the Mao Zedong's proclamation establishing the communist republic.
San Francisco traditionally flies the flag of countries with consulates in the city to mark their national holidays. Last year, the mayor of San Leandro nixed plans to fly the Chinese flag on October 1 after a public outcry.
Hong Kong's so-called Umbrella Revolution began last week with pro-democracy activists occupying government buildings and major intersections to protest mainland China's decision to vet the electoral candidates to lead the fomer British colony.
Protesters have demanded the resignation of Hong Kong's chief executive Leung Chun-ying in the biggest challenge to Beijing's authority since it took control of Hong Kong in 1997. Dozens of protesters have been injured and arrested in clashes with riot police who have deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Mayor Lee told the San Francisco Chronicle he was not completely clear on what was behind the protests in Hong Kong. "To be candid, I haven't studied all of the reason's why they're protesting," Lee told the Chronicle.
"San Francisco, as well as California, has very strong ties with China. We're trying to evolve that more and more," Lee told the Chronicle. "That's not to say that we diminish the right of people to protest what they believe in. I think that's appropriate as well. I think we in San Francisco can accommodate both."
San Francisco has long courted Chinese companies and the city's leaders have often made state visits to China. At the same time, the city's Board of Supervisors have often taken stands on human rights issues worldwide, and on China's in particular, such as when supervisors voted to place a replica of the "Goddess of Democracy" statue in Chinatown following Beijing's 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square.
