Michael加油！
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【背水一戰，無險可守 —— 彭卓棋積極考慮出選香港島直選】
十年前的今天，是一場單一議題的「實現真普選，廢除功能組別」的「五‧一六公投」。 十年過去了，普選依舊仍未於這土地出現。
十年後的今天，不但沒有真普選，傀儡香港政府背後真正掌權者——中國共產黨，於這十年間，用盡政治、經濟、文化根本上「去香港化」、「中國式殖民化」。 去年開展起的「反送中」運動，更赤裸裸地告訴我們，政權經已不再搽脂抹粉打壓人民，而是比「陽謀」更陽地明目張膽全民接管香港，推行惡法。 面對香港如此危急存亡之時，香港人對反惡法、反極權這最後底線，透過血汗、個人前途甚至一眾手足的生命去抵抗，重光香港的時代革命，再非口號。 但我們必須刻骨銘記，現在以空間換取的政治緩衝時間，是香港人以灑熱血，拋頭顱換取的。 而前路，我們仍有《國歌法》、「二十三條」的危機。
「知易行難 知難行更難 」
去年，我本著「重奪議會」的理念，參與2019年的區議會選舉。 我懷着不能讓建制保皇派及其親共黨羽自動當選的決心，以及給予居民多一個選擇的信念，最終有幸當選成為南區區議員，服務赤石。 競選之初，我深信前路非常艱鉅，當選後，更深明香港政局是苦征惡戰。 因為，香港政局，再不是能透過協商去解決問題。 若果《中英聯合聲明》作為一個歷史文件，不再具有任何現實意義；若果港澳辦和中聯辦（兩辦）高調亂釋《基本法》是正確；若果721即時拘捕白衣人是不切實際；若果黑警不用為著其暴行而負上種種責任；若果五大訴求仍得不到回應…… 抱歉，我們必需去掉幻想，全面抗爭。 我們已沒有時間、成本再作妥協。
「枉尺直尋 都不妥協 去掉幻想 全面抗爭」
馬丁路德金所言：「改變不會自動到來，而是需要經過不斷的抗爭。」 要香港改變，必須付出代價。 要付出代價，必須全面搶攻抗爭平台。 「街頭抗爭」、「議會抗爭」、「國際支援」，缺一不可。
九月的立法會選舉是香港自由的終極之戰，退無可退，無險可守，「35+」是這場選舉的主軸，以「議會抗爭攬炒」達至迫使政府回應「五大訴求」。 這是沒有妥協的空間。 合適的立法會代議士只有一個條件：就是無論是否取得「35+」，都會堅實不移地執行「議會抗爭」的路線：不惜以一切手段迫使政府回應「五大訴求」，不論立法會的大會或所有委員會，都要有極其堅定的「抗爭意志」來制衡這個不公義的議會，抗衡這個沒有民意授權的政府。
我，彭卓棋亦會積極考慮參與九月立法會港島區地區直選，會以一切可行的方法來進行「議會抗爭」，肢體抗爭的手段更是在所難免。 阻撓惡法，即使有機會被DQ、被控告，又何足道哉？ 只有這份決心，這份意志，才能對得起每一位在運動中犧牲的香港人，才能真正踏出改變的第一步。
最後，十年前的五區公投到今天，「普選」仍未出現。 但我心存感激，自小得到前輩們的啟蒙，投身社運。 但亦因為這份啟蒙，令我看到每個人都無法不肩負時代的責任，只是跑道的不同，無分你我。 這份巨大的責任，就是要以一整代人來肩負。 同樣「光復香港，時代革命」也不要幻想是一次區議會選舉，或立法會選舉就能達成，一切都只是開始，這場未來至少十年的硬仗，讓我們吹起「煲底之約」的號角，闊步昂首對抗極權！ 光復香港！
2020年5月16日 彭卓棋
Ten years ago, I participated in the 5 constituencies referendum protest calling for an abolition of the functional constituencies as well as genuine universal suffrage. Today, not only does true democracy not exist, but Hong Kong is strangled even tighter by the suffocating hands of totalitarian China.
In fact, over the last ten years we have seen increasing Mainlandisation, be it in our education system, property development, economy, culture and arts scene - not to mention, greater control over our political participation.
The 2019 Anti-Extradition Bill protests - specifically, the brutal and unaccountable crackdown that came in response to it - was the most blatant display of tyranny that we have experienced yet. And indeed, it is the recent National Security Law unilaterally passed by the Chinese Communist Party that has decisively declared that “One Country, Two Systems” is dead.
Countless students, activists, religious leaders, professionals and other Hong Kong-loving citizens have sacrificed themselves - their personal safety, security and entire futures - to safeguard what once was an open and free society. It is important that we remind ourselves of their sacrifice every day; to recognise that for these people, “fight[ing] for freedom” and “stand[ing] with Hong Kong” is not simply a catchy slogan, but a real and wholehearted battle.
Last year, I ran for District Council election with the simple intention of offering my constituency with a democratic alternative in the face of a potential pro-establishment automatic reelection. One of the cornerstones of democracy is pluralism and choice - and I am still humbled that a democratic majority of Stanley and Shek O residents chose me as their representative.
Nevertheless, as I ran for, and eventually, as I took up office, I saw the fight for a more open and accountable political future would be a hugely difficult - indeed, nigh on impossible - one. The establishment has trampled over all promises that once guaranteed the autonomy of our city. The Sino-British joint declaration holds little - if any - weight; our Basic Law is arbitrarily reinterpreted to fit the governing ideology of an Orwellian state; the facts of police brutality are entirely denied; while protests are routinely deemed illegal and even labelled as acts of “terrorism”.
To quote Martin Luther King Jr, “change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” And struggle is what we must do if we do not want Hong Kong to fall to the hands of tyranny - be it on the streets, on social media, or within our institutions. We each have our calling and we each have our station to make the best use of our abilities. And I believe my place resides within political office.
Therefore, I, Michael Pang, hereby declare that I strongly consider the possibility of running for Legislative Council for Hong Kong Island in the upcoming election in September. Despite whatever threats or obstacles that might come our way, I am more determined than ever to stand by my fellow comrades and take my place in this fight for freedom.
Let us not despair, but let us forge solidarity in adversity - against tyranny and against evil, and liberate Hong Kong.
Michael Pang
16 May 2020
