How free is Hong Kong these days?
They may not jail us all but they've already jailed more people
than we would like (and think is fair and just)
Leave Hong Kong before it’s too late, say those who now call Britain home. Thus reads the headline of an Observer article out today, the first day that the United Kingdom opens a new immigration route for residents of the former British colony who have British National (Overseas) (B(N)O) status and their dependents that's long overdue.
On Friday, we saw the Communist Chinese regime and the Hong Kong government's reaction to the British government's previously announced move. And even while their declaration that they were no longer recognize B(N)O passports as legal travel documents were not entirely unexpected, they frankly were still upsetting and sowed greater fear and confusion -- the latter of which, at least, the likes of Lo Kin-hei have sought to remedy -- among many Hong Kong residents who already have been feeling pretty jittery for some time now.
Months ago, a friend who is a B(N)O passport holder -- but has never set foot in the United Kingdom thus far in his life -- told me of his and his wife's plans to emigrate to Britain after this new immigration route came into effect. A few weeks ago, he told me that they've sold their house and a few days ago, he told me that he's already scheduled for movers to pack up and ship out their belongings not too far in the future now.
He's not the only one with plans to leave Hong Kong, and also was not the first. Another friend announced his and his wife's decision to move to Britain last July 1st, the day after China's security law for Hong Kong came into effect. And I know of three other people (two of them born in Hong Kong but all of them holding Australian citizenship) who left Hong Kong in the latter part of last year.
Of course, pretty much every year that I've been in Hong Kong, I've had friends leave the territory. But all this feels very different. In a nutshell: a lot more people (contemplating) leaving these days are doing so because they feel they have to leave rather than because they actually want to, and earlier than they would like for safety's sake; and a good number of people who have felt obliged to leave still very much have their hearts in Hong Kong (or Hong Kong in their hearts).
At the same time, there also are those (still) determined to stay and exercise those freedoms they have that still remain. Against the odds, they still refuse to give up. And while some people might see them as waging a hopeless battle, I must admit to finding it admirable and really touching that there are people still resisting and giving voice to their hopes and wants for Hong Kong still.
Take, as example, what I came across in Causeway Bay yesterday afternoon: a stall set up by the League of Social Democrats (LSD) festooned with messages and slogans like "Free Hong Kong" and "Release All Political Prisoners", and entreaties to Save the Hong Kong 12; and where people could write messages to political prisoners and sign banners calling for their release as well as pick up free festive but also political fai chun.
At a time when some people have become afraid to openly state that they are pro-democracy in public, on line and even at gatherings with friends or family, it's quite something to see that there are still a good number of people willing to be so open about their political affiliation and wishes. In a free part of the world, it may not seem like a big deal. But in present day Hong Kong, this demonstration that the Hong Kong spirit of resistance is still alive came across as pretty courageous and hearteningly inspirational; this especially since a police van had parked nearby and there were a number of foot patrols in the area too.
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