#Oppression #PoliceState
Pro-democracy activists Henry Tong and wife left Hong Kong; Managed to overcome bouts of depression

Henry Tong and his wife Elaine To announced on #Jan17 on their Facebook page that they have left Hong Kong. Due to concerns over the safety of his family and the changing Hong Kong judicial environment, he stated that he “had to physically move away [from Hong Kong]”.

Tong and To (then fiancée) were convicted of rioting in a protest in Sheung Wan on 28 July 2019 (known as the “728 case”) and were later cleared of all charges.

Initially Tong thought the transition should be relatively straightforward, but in reality “it isn’t easy to leave a place where you grew up”. “We have done nothing wrong. Poor governance and policies in the past 20 odd years have turned our lives upside down. In the end it is us who have to go. Why?” He could not help asking himself, in tears with his wife on the plane flying out.

Tong shared his experience of depression after arrival in the first two months. The pain of separation [from his loved ones in Hong Kong] was so raw that he even had suicidal thoughts.

Thanks to the encouragement from his fellow remand prisoners in the 728 case, he managed to overcome this trying time. The group named themselves “turnips” after the worst ever dish they had in custody. Fellow turnips kept reminding him that “the physical distance will not prevent one from pursuing the cause”. Tong said his “primary goals right now are to equip himself and seek opportunities”. He added, regardless of what lies ahead and where he is, his determination will not waver and hope “everyone takes care and we will meet again in Hong Kong”.

See report by HKCNews in Chinese.
https://www.hkcnews.com/article/32370/728%E4%B8%8A%E7%92%B0%E8%A1%9D%E7%AA%81-%E6%9A%B4%E5%8B%95-%E8%B5%B4%E6%B9%AF%E6%9D%9C%E7%81%AB-32392/%E6%9A%B4%E5%8B%95

He posted a photo of him holding a yellow umbrella at Liberty Square in Taipei. He added two lines of text in the photo, showing “wishing everyone a life that is free and equal” and “looking forward to meeting again in Hong Kong”.

In addition, he stated, “afterall, I will stay true to what I believe regardless of what will happen and where I am”.

Henry Tong and his wife used to be fitness coaches and operated a gym together. They closed the gym following Hong Kong’s LeaveHomeSafe app was mandated on 18 February 2021 due to privacy concerns. They also stopped coaching due to suspicious people lurking around where they worked.

See Henry Tong's announcement in Chinese on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/Futongtofor/posts/640198240737765

Source: InMediaHK; #Jan18
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/%E7%A4%BE%E9%81%8B/%E8%B5%B4%E6%B9%AF%E6%9D%9C%E7%81%AB%E9%9B%A2%E6%B8%AF-%E6%B9%AF%E5%81%89%E9%9B%84

#WhiteTerror #JointEnterprise #Taiwan #NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState

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