一群香港藝術發展局辦事處職員的公開信
我們是一群香港藝術發展局辦事處的職員。作為藝文界一份子，我們相信藝術表達自由是達至多元化藝術環境的基礎，並積極以不同方式促進本地藝術的整體發展。就近日反修例事件，我們促請香港特區政府正視市民的五大訴求，修補日益擴大的社會裂縫，捍衛公義與自由。
反修例事件已爆發近兩個月，政府回應市民的態度令人既擔憂又憤慨。藝文界及社會各階層多番呼籲政府撤回修訂卻一直不獲正視，激發一連串大遊行、連儂牆、示威者以死相諫、觸目驚心的警民衝突及流血事件。然而，政府漠視社會的擔憂和需要，動搖了市民對政府的信任。武力鎮壓不斷升級，波及無辜市民，令民怨持續升溫。而元朗白衣者肆意襲擊市民事件、警方的選擇性執法、政府迴避警方失職問題令社會中瀰漫著白色恐怖。
若政府只容納一種聲音，排擠、甚或暴力鎮壓異議者，對建構和諧且多元化的國際文化藝術都市百害而無一利。在一個被逼噤聲的環境中，即使往文化基建及藝文發展投入更多資源，也無法修補一個時代的缺口、一段黯然失色的社會歷史及文化。
我們深信，藝術文化建基於民生，反映著市民的精神面貌。在這段期間，香港市民為表達民主訴求，在線上線下表現出非一般的創意、行動力及韌力，而這些正是造就社會多元、藝文興盛的能量。
我們在此重申五大訴求：
1. 徹底撤回《逃犯條例》修訂
2. 收回抗爭暴動定性
3. 成立獨立調查委員會，徹查《逃犯條例》修例相關事件的真相
4. 停止濫捕濫控抗爭者
5. 立即實行真普選
願與廣大藝術工作者同心同行，與所有香港市民齊上齊落。不撤不散。香港人加油。
一群香港藝術發展局辦事處職員
2019年8月1日
註：此公開信並不代表藝發局立場，僅代表認同以上內容的藝發局辦事處職員。
1 August 2019
Public Letter from the Staff of HKADC Administration Office
We are a group of staff from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC). As members of the arts community, we believe that the freedom of artistic expression is the foundation for creating a vibrant and diverse habitat for arts, and we have sought different ways to further the arts development in Hong Kong. In light of recent movements against the Extradition Law Amendment Bill, we urge the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to respond to the 5 public demands in order to mend the ever-widening social division and safeguard justice and freedom.
In the two months since the movements broke out, the government’s approach to the people has only sparked deep concern and despair. The arts sector and many other sectors across society have repeated pleaded to the government to withdraw the bill, but all pleas fell on deaf ears. Ongoing large scale protests were initiated, Lennon Walls were constructed, protesters took their own lives, appalling conflicts arose between the people and the police, blood was shed, and yet the government has remained adamantly indifferent to the concerns and needs of the society, hindering what little trust that remains between the people and the government. On the other hand, increasingly violent suppressions are harming innocent people and aggravating public discontent, while the Yuen Long vigilante assaults, the police’s arbitrary conduct in law enforcement and the government’s disregard for police misconduct have combined to spread white terror in society.
A government that cannot tolerate more than one voice, that suppresses other voices through isolation and violence, only does harm to a multifaceted, international cultural metropolis. If a city is silenced, no amount of resources invested in cultural infrastructures and artistic development can ever mend an era’s brokenness and bring a wilted history and culture back to life.
We firmly believe that arts and culture trace back to the people and their lives. They are reflections of a general state of mind. Over the course of events, the people of Hong Kong have exhibited astonishing creativity, proactiveness and tenacity in their democratic expressions both online and in the real world – and these are precisely the kind of energy that engenders social diversity and artistic brilliance.
Therefore, we hereby reiterate the 5 public demands:
1. Complete withdrawal of the Extradition Law Amendment Bill
2. Withdrawal of the “riot” characterisation of the protests
3. Setting up an Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the police’s handling of protests and abuse of power
4. Unconditional release of all arrested protesters
5. Universal suffrage at once
We will walk alongside arts practitioners across the field and the people of Hong Kong and we will not quit until the demands are met. Hong Kongers, add oil.
A group of staff from HKADC
Note: This public letter does not represent the views and stance of HKADC and only represents HKADC staff members who endorse this letter.
