Even with news the Hong Kong government will hold talks with those occupying the citys streets, protesters will likely not succeed in their two stated goals: the resignation of Hong Kong chief executive C.Y. Leung, and rules guaranteeing honest elections for future chief executives, starting in 2017.

What the students have achieved, however, is something far more alarming for any regime lacking the security of political legitimacy: Theyve made their leaders look ridiculous.

Granted, China has brought this all upon itself. Notwithstanding the many symbols of a modernizing China gleaming skyscrapers, state-of-the-art infrastructure, a record IPO on the New York Stock Exchange whenever Beijing finds itself challenged by ordinary Chinese, it opts for a response right out of Communist central casting.

The latest was this weeks tear-gassing of the most gentle, law-abiding citizens youll find. In so doing, authorities elevated the humble umbrella into a democratic icon, used by protestors to shield themselves from sun and rain and, now, their own police force firing tear gas.

In so doing, too, Chinese leaders unwittingly opened up yet another avenue for their own humiliation.

Look what happened Oct 1.

The date marks the anniversary of Maos declaration of the Peoples Republic of China. These days its a holiday in Hong Kong, where officials show up for solemn ceremonies filled with pieties no one really believes about the heroic achievements of the Peoples Republic and the love of Hong Kong people for the motherland.

This Wednesday, the entire holiday was up-ended by a local pro-democracy councilman, Paul Zimmerman. During the official ceremony, a smiling Zimmerman unfurled a bright yellow umbrella.

The photograph of that yellow umbrella standing out sharply against the sea of grim black suits and red flags went around the world, just another of the many highly public embarrassments not only for Leung but for his masters in Beijing.

Leung must be getting used to it. Today, no one in Hong Kong refers to Leung by either his name or his office. In a city of more than 7 million people, hes referred to as 689, a reminder of the number of votes in the Beijing-appointed committee that selected him as Hong Kongs leader.

Originally posted here:

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