Countdown Rally, Democracy and Rights 2000

Programme Rundown

1	Singing performance - Over to the New Generation	Michael and Gerry
2	Speeches from local guest speakers	Audrey Eu, SC Martin Lee, Chairman, Democratic Party
3	Singing performance - Our War Song	Simon Ho
4	Speeches from local guest speakers	Chong Chan-yau Ambrose Cheung
5	Drama	Asian Peoples* Theatre Festival Society
6	Speech from overseas guest speaker(Video taped)	Aung San Suu Kyi, Leader of Burma opposition party
7	Speech from local guest speaker	Alan Abrahams, Amnesty International (HK Section)
8	Song singing - Millenium Song of Democracy	All participants
9	Speeches from overseas guest speakers (Video taped)	The Dalai Lama
10	Speeches from local guest speakers	Lee Wai Yee, Association for the Advancement Feminism Representative of Asian Migrants' Co-ordinating Body
11	Singing performance - China Dream	Chung Wai Ming
12	Speech from overseas guest speaker (Video taped)	Ma Ying-jeou, Taipei Mayor
13	Speeches from local guest speakers	Han Dong Fang, China labour movement activist Lee Cheuk-yan, Hong Kong labour movement activist
14	Dance	Asian Migrants' Theatre Collective
15	Speech from overseas guest speaker (Video taped)	Wang Dan, Leader of 1989 Tiananmen student movement
16	Speeches from Local guest speakers	Chan King Chi Emily Lau, The Frontier Szeto Wah, Chairman, Hong Kong Alliance
17	Countdown guests on stage	People of different races, age groups, sectors, etc.
18	Countdown to the New Millennium	All participants
19	Together for democracy and freedom	All participants
20	Declaration	Teenage representatives
21	Song singing -- Millenium Song of Democracy	All participants
22	End of Programme

1. The Frontier
2. The Democratic Party
3. Citizens Party
4. Rainbow of Hong Kong
5. Queen Sisters
6. April Fifth Action
7. Movement Against Discrimination
8. Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor
9. Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions
10. Hong Kong Christian Institute
11. China Youth Services & Recreation Center
12. Church Workers* Association
13. Democratic Progress For Hong Kong and China
14. Hong Kong Federation of Students
15. Mak Ip Sing District Board Member Office
16. Christians For Hong Kong Society
17. Student Christian Movement of Hong Kong
18. Hong Kong Women Christian Council
19. Hong Kong Social Workers* Association
20. Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union
21. Tongzhi Community Joint Meeting
22. Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China
23. Coalition for Migrants' Rights
24. Dr. Shing Ming
25. Mr. Lai Chi Keong
26. Mr. Hong Yu Man

The human race will soon enter a new millennium. During the past century, we have experienced dictatorship, autocracy, massacres, repression, slavery, starvation, inequalities and degradations of every kind. However, in spite of it all, we embrace hope and we shall persist and continue in our struggle step by step.

The "Declaration of Human Rights" promulgated in 1948 was the loudest war cry yet for our aspirations, and we see in that event a signpost for our future struggles. For more than fifty years, the realization of these ideals has been the shared goal of the entire human race. Democracy, liberty, individual human rights, and the rule of law have become the common banner shared by every member of the human race.

Ours has been a lesson learned through suffering and written in the blood of innocent men and women: it is only when democracy prevails that liberty will remain intact, only then when human rights are respected, only then when the rule of law is carried out. We know that the fight for democracy and democratic rule is the most important of targets and worthy of our every effort.

Since the returns of Hong Kong's sovereignty in 1997, we have witnessed setback after setback. Democracy, liberty, human rights, and the rule of law have been trampled on by those who care more about pleasing the butchers in Beijing than in safeguarding the interests and rights of the Hong Kong people. This reactionary rear-guard action goes against the currents and developments of history. We must unite with every other member of the human race and stand firm to oppose this reactionary counter-current. Our ideals will prevail and until that moment we must oppose these elements of repression, hatred, and evil. In the words of one poet and friend of freedom: "Not yet, liberty, close your eyes in slumber-for your enemies never sleep."

The new millennium has arrived. This new millennium will bring democracy, liberty, human rights, and the rule of law total and absolute victory all over the world. This is our dream, this is our hope, this is our belief and deepest aspiration.

Let us leave the old millennium behind and look forward, together, to the new millennium. Let us spare no effort and march forward in high spirit and determination and continue to struggle for the full realization of democracy, individual liberty, human rights, and the rule of law in Hong Kong and all the world over.