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RSS/FEED订阅【10.1 集结案】吴文远：希望民主制度能成为桥梁 弥合社会鸿沟
【编按：壹传媒创办人黎智英、李卓人及何俊仁等 10 名民主派人士，被指前年 10 月 1 日组织及明知而参与未经批准集结等罪。各被告早前认罪，法官胡雅文今（24 日）在区域法院听取求情。被告之一的社民连吴文远呈上陈情信，指自己一直希望民主制度能成为桥梁弥合社会鸿沟，他为了追求全体香港人的权利而违反了法律，已准备面对法院的判决，并荣幸能与同案几位被告同行。陈词中文译本及英文全文转载如下。】
法官阁下：
从小我父母便教我要有同理心，要关顾社会上相对不幸的人。尽管在早年职业生涯上取得不俗成就，但我从来没有意欲将追求个人财富视为人生目标。
当我在国外生活了多年后回到香港定居时，我为这个我自豪地称之为家的城市，存在如此严重的社会不平等而感到困惑和担忧。令我震惊的是，社会如何漠视对穷人和少数族裔的歧视。既有的社会结构，有时甚至会鼓励这种歧视继续发生。同时，我们也无法一如其它地方，享有基本的民主权利和自由。
这些都是我参与社会运动以至参与政治的动机。我希望尽己所能，为被忽视的弱势阶层鼓与呼，替不能为自己发声的人说话。
与许多人相比，我很幸运能够接受良好教育，并拥有一定程度上的财务自由和社会地位。我们很幸运，能够过上舒适生活，并有自由选择我们的道路。我选择为社会平等而奋斗。其实这个法庭上许多人都差不多，我们都喜欢香港，这个称为家的地方。或许我们在生活中选择了不同的角色，但目标都是相同：为他人服务。
可悲的是，我担心我们已经逐渐成为社会制度中的例外。当下许多香港人根本没有那些机会，包括贫困长者，欠缺向上流动机会、被边缘化的年轻人，还有牺牲所有时间但只能为家庭仅仅维持基本生活的工人。这些人再努力，生活中的选择仍然局限于维持生计。对他们来说，“选择”是负担不起的奢侈品，更不用说如何决定自己的命运。
在生活压力下，我们的视野通常很难超越自身的社交圈子，更难的是对陌生人展现同理心。两极化的政治分歧产生越来越多裂痕，令我们有时候无法互相理解、和而不同，亦不愿意试图寻求某种程度的妥协。
我一直希望，一个较民主的制度能够成为一道桥梁，弥合上述社会鸿沟，或者至少容让我们选择怎样共同生活。
2019 年的动荡，为整个社会带来了沉重的打击。无论政治立场如何，我敢肯定这个法庭上有许多人，都为此而伤心欲绝。整座城市都被不信任、仇恨和恐惧所淹没。今天固然不是讨论这个问题的合适地方，但我希望法庭能够理解，仅靠司法机构并不能解决已经根深蒂固的社会政治鸿沟。
我们需要集体力量、勇气、诚实和同理心来修补我们的家。看看几位同案被告，他们在服务社会方面有着非凡的纪录。比起囚禁在监狱，我相信他们能够对社会作出更大贡献。
为了追求全体香港人的权利，我的确违反了法律，并且已准备面对法院的判决。令人敬重的几位同案被告，毕生捍卫法治，为民主而战，为无声者发声，我十分荣幸能够与他们并肩同行。
我相信终有一天，笼罩我们城市的乌云将会消散，光明将会重临，爱和同理心将会战胜归来。
吴文远
2021 年 5 月 24 日
Avery Ng Man Yuen’s Statement
Your Honour,
I was brought up by my parents to value the importance of empathy, to care and to feel for others in our community less fortunate. Although I enjoyed great success early in my career, I never had a desire to pursue personal wealth in the more traditional sense.
When I settled back in Hong Kong after years of living abroad, I was baffled and disturbed by how severe the social inequality existed in a city I am proud to call my home. I was struck at how discrimination against the poor and the minorities far too often goes ignored or can even at times is encouraged by the established social structure; and how we cannot have the basic democratic rights and freedoms that other places enjoy.
These were my motivations to join social activism and enter into politics. I chose to spend my energy to speak for the underprivileged, the disenchanted and often ignored segments of society. To offer a voice for those who could not speak for themselves.
Compared to many, I am privileged to have a great education and a certain level of financial freedom and social standing. We are fortunate enough to be able to lead comfortable lives and have the freedom to choose the path that we take. I chose to fight for social equality. Many of those in this court are not that much different. We all love Hong Kong, the place we call home. We chose our different roles in life but with the same aim: to serve others.
Sadly, I fear that many of us are increasingly the exception to the rule. Today far too many Hong Kong people do not have that chance, whether that is our elderly who live in poverty, marginalized youth with few opportunities for social mobility, or workers who give up all their time slaving away to provide the bare minimum for their families. These people all struggle to make ends meet with very limited options in life. “Choice” for them is a luxury that they cannot afford. Let alone having the gratification of being able to dictate their own destiny.
I recognise, with the pressures of life, it is often difficult for people to see beyond their own social bubble. It is harder still to acquire empathy for strangers. Polarized political division increasingly has driven a wedge between people, making it sometimes impossible for people to understand and empathise with one another, to disagree agreeably, and attempt to find some level of compromise.
It has always been my hope that a more democratic system could be the bridge that heals this social divide or at the very least allow us to choose how we can live together in our home.
I’m certain that none of us in this court wanted to see the turmoil in 2019, which has seen our whole society suffer regardless of political preference. Distrust, hatred, and fear has engulfed Hong Kong. Today is certainly not the right forum for this immense topic. However, I hope the court can understand that the Judiciary alone cannot resolve the deep-rooted socio-political divide which exist.
It will take our collective strength, courage, honesty, and empathy to mend our home. Looking at my fellow defendants with their extraordinary history in serving this society, I believe they can do far greater good among us in society than being locked in prison.
In pursuit of the rights of all Hong Kong people, I have broken the law. I am prepared to face the court’s judgement. I am proud to be in the company of my esteemed fellows who have spent their lives championing the rule of law, fighting for the democracy and voicing for the voiceless.
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I believe the storm-clouds that currently reside over our home will one day lift, and make way for a bright and clear day. I believe love and empathy will eventually prevail.
