It is one thing to pursue a life abroad entirely out of one’s own decision and free will, but completely another to be forced to leave your home. The latter is what most Hong Kong people are facing right now. 

Of course there are those who gladly embraces China with open arms, in the spirit of Hong Kong being an open society, though I can never comprehend the logic, I respect their opinion. Just move over to Greater Bay Area already, chop chop…However, most Hong Kongers have been protesting for the past year to preserve Hong Kong under the one country two system for AT LEAST 50 years. (As things progress, police brutality is a seriously huge issue we protest about but let’s keep it simpler for now)

The hottest topics being discussed lately amongst friends and relatives are “UK will be extending rights to BNO holders, hopefully passing the bill in Sep” – HK DHL delivery all packed with people trying to mail out their BNO renewal forms. “3M HKD to buy a house and you can get Portuguese Citizenship in 5 years” “6.5M NTD as investment to migrate to Taiwan, ah but it’s not as easy as it was” This may be familiar to my parents generation as they have been through 1997 when Hong Kong was handed over, but this is entirely new to me. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against China, in fact, since Grade 1’s Mandarin class (不到長城非好漢), I’ve been dying to visit the Great Wall, I’m fascinated by Chinese history and myths and stories behind each traditional festival. I love the fact that I’m Chinese, I just downright disagree with the Party and its Chairman  (which btw, they can probably just throw me in jail for merely saying that when the security law passes. Better put it out there now than later.)

I’ve always been thankful for my parents’ decision to give up moving to the States and staying in Hong Kong. I grew up witnessing all the beauty of this little fishing town, I mean international financial center, that is so diverse and dynamic. It was competitive growing up but still so god damn wonderful. How can 7M+ people be packed in such a small but vibrant city where there are endless things to do! There were times I hated Hong Kong of course, the pollution, the rude people cutting lines, the traffic, the overly priced pretentious restaurants… but the more I’ve seen and lived in other cities, the more I see the beauty of Hong Kong. Oh no, it’s not another modern international city like Singapore. Hong Kong has CHARACTER. And CHARM. (no, I’m not biased, you can hike in HK, can you in SG?) Truly a harmonious juxtaposition of Western and Eastern cultures. Despite being merely a dot on the map, there is so much history and stories behind each stairs and crooked alley. There is nature, are beaches and mountains within your grasp. Its architecture so rich in elegance yet so rough in texture. The western Kong style food, long before “fusion” is even a thing. I fell in love with my hometown all over again the last time I shown my Mexican friends around.

No city is perfect, but only one would be home. At least that’s what I’ve always assumed…but now home… may become yet another distant, abstract concept we keep in our hearts, like universal suffrage and sovereignty. Step by step, China is restraining our rights as Hong Kong citizens: freedom of press (police attacking journalists, terminating TV shows that discuss politics), freedom of assembly and protest (first time in 30 years we’re not allow to gather for the June 4th memorial), freedom of speech! I know you argue that well China has always been that way, but that’s the thing, humans can only progress and evolve, we cannot go backwards and revert back to the 1800s!

I can foresee further injustice happening in Hong Kong, accompanied by escalating policy brutality, government’s nonchalance and judicial system nonsense. But for now, let’s take some quiet time and mental space to recall the courageous spirits, freedom loving students in 1989 at Tiananmen Square.

May we have the courage to stand up against human rights violation and unite under the love for freedom and truth. To tell right from wrong despite all the fake news and abundance information out there. To have critical thinking and be calm and open minded to discussions. Do not fear for doing the right thing.

Here’s to all those Tiananmen students who never left and were forever students. Here’s to all Hong Kongers who died, who sacrificed, who were arrested, who fled because they love and protected Hong Kong. Covering up or forbidding the mention of something is not going to make it go away because what has happened is carved in time. And the fact is my parents watched it live on TV 1989, June 4th.

Although there was no image, they heard every gun shot loud and clear. May we never forget what really happened. 毋忘六四. 毋忘721, 毋忘831. Those who survived and lived, own it to those who didn’t. 

https://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/15/world/asia/tiananmen-square-fast-facts/index.html (last updated May 2020)