It is with the heaviest heart that I am writing this, after THE largest protest Hong Kong has ever seen since the 1997 handover. I admit in guilt that since the Umbrella movement in 2014, I avoided all political news in Hong Kong on purpose because it was too much to bear. It was made easy when I relocated to Taipei in 2017, out of sight, out of mind right? I took the ostrich approach to spare my heart and brain the trouble; for it is unable to resolve or reconcile these political affairs. But there is a limit to deliberate oblivion. During this business trip to Hong Kong, I happened to be here and even the “usually uninterested group” [the business sector, the elderlies, the C9s (housewives)] expressed their concern; I can no longer stay out of my Hong Kong citizen duties.
Many would say with 1.03M protesters, in other countries, the government would have collapsed already. That is the reason why HK people have been protesting for universal suffrage. BECAUSE 1.03M would mean 1.03M VOTES in a democratic system. However, in our government, it translates into nothing more than noises from the society. If the legislative council gets enough votes from their members, the law will pass anyway. This is why it is imperative for us to express our voices in anyway possible. For those who opt for demonstration, please do so. For the brave young souls who stayed and occupied the roads, I admire your courage. And I thank you for your sacrifice for the greater good of our future generations.
For those who consider themselves moderate/ mild, please also be understanding of one another, it is now the time to unite as one, Hong Kong people. Only together, can we make the loudest sound to be heard. Mrs. Carrie Lam has literally gone mad where she can only see how her arguments make sense and unable to hear mainstream opinion. How do you wake up someone who pretends to be sleeping? I don’t know. But there is no harm in trying.
For the so called 700k signatures that “support” the extradition law. My brothers have tried signing up on their website. Basically, you can type in ANY number for identification and it will be recorded. Simply put, it is a scam. With THAT many signatures “supporting the extradition law”, only 30 showed up to hand over the petition to the government. No one can possible believe in that bullshit right? It was in fact, printed on the front page of one major newspaper in HK…I’d like to quote the recently popular show: Chernobyl
“What is the cost of lies? It’s not that we’ll mistake them for the truth. The real danger is that if we hear enough lies, then we no longer recognize the truth at all.”
After the protest, I took my usual minibus (54) home. The radio was aptly blasting Under the Lion Rock Mountain song from the 80s, I couldn’t help but teared up because the reason why we could prosper like an economic miracle at that time is because everyone had freedom of speech, of basic human rights and trust in the system. Unlike our “Great Nation” /偉大的祖國, where people could be retaliated for something their country did, go vanish, be staged suicide, forced TV confession, you name it, they’e probably done it. For future generations to come, you could all be labelled fugitive if this law go through. This is not just about the 0.0001% criminals, but ALL of us. There is no guarantee in the words of liars. The law removes this firewall between Hong Kong and the notorious judicial system in China. We are all at stake, even the business travelers who transit or the tourists who love shopping in Hong Kong so much.
I feel helpless and powerless after doing my part. After all the education I had, career I’ve been building, what else can I do to contribute? Quoting Denise Ho, from her speech at the Oslo Freedom Forum, we continue to do what we do best. For me it meant writing. For all my international friends to understand and raise awareness amongst people. I am still keeping my hopes up. I hope the next time I return to Hong Kong, it will still be the same safe haven it has always been. I cannot call another place home. God bless Hong Kong. May the odds be ever in the people’s favor.
To learn more:
Christopher Patten’s comment (Final British Governor of HK)
Miss Tofu 