#Poem #Recital #HongkongersVoice
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Calls For Hong Kong Voices: "Freedom fighters/ With faces of pain/ And voices that will be heard"

On Oct 21, 2020, U.S. actor #JosephGordonLevitt is looking for people in Hong Kong to recite a poem titled "Hong Kong Never Sleeps".

The poem describes Hong Kong by the image of water including "fire on water" and "weeping tears of rain". The work also highlights the pro-democracy protests in the city by "bringing together people in the streets" and calling Hongkongers "freedom fighters".

The poem in full reads:

"Hong Kong, she never sleeps
A beauty in the orient
A smiling dragon that breathes
She is fire on water
A city of spirited souls and passing ships

Hong Kong, a world of its own
Where we write our own history
Upon pathways unknown,
But never alone
We forever stand as one

Hong Kong, weeping tears of rain
Bringing together people in the streets
Freedom fighters
With faces of pain
And voices that will be heard

Hong Kong, a home to us all
With layers of landscapes, harbors and hills
Between blue skies and blue seas
On clear days
You can see forever

Hong Kong, our sacred city
Walking and talking through avenues
So full of life
The place we settle in to sleep
And fill with dreams in the night"

Gordon-Levitt urged the interested person to send their recording to:
https://hitrecord.app.link/hongkong_voiceactors

Gordon-Levitt was known for his roles in critically-acclaimed movies including 500 Days of Summer, Inception and Chicago 7. The platform Hitrecord is founded by him and his brother.

Source: Stand News #Oct22

#Art #HongKongNeverSleeps #GlobalSupport

#HongkongersVoice #Court
Hong Kong Young Pro-democracy Activists #JoshuaWong, #AgnesChow and #IvanLam Tell Fellow Hongkongers Not to Be Afraid Before Their Trial

Pro-democracy activists Agnes Chow Ting, Joshua Wong Chi-fung and Ivan Lam Long-yin, who were former members of the now-disbanded Demosisto, will face trial at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court on November 23, 2020.

Ivan Lam, aged 26 years old, is two years older than the 1996-born Agnes Chow and Joshua Wong.

Seven years ago, the trio were featured in the cover story of City Magazine, under the title "The Reflection of Scholarisn: Young Power: Post-1990s in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China". As the founding members of Scholarism, the trio were interviewed by the magazine for their roles as secondary school students in rejuvenating social activism in the city.

Seven years later, the trio, like their fellow Hongkongers, faced great adversities in the fight for freedom and democracy. In addition to this case regarding a protest outside the police headquarters in June 2019, Agnes Chow is facing another charge of violating the national security law.

As the three planned to plead guilty in court on November 23, 2020, immediate detention might follow.

Image: City Magazine, Jan 2013
Source: Joshua Wong's FB; Agnes Chow's FB #Nov22

======
Read more:

#FreeAgnes
Agnes Chow Shares her Feelings on Social Media Before Trial
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/26866

#JoshuaWong Reveals Abuse of Pro-Democracy Student in HK's Prison Before Own Trial
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/26869

#HongkongersVoice #NeverGiveUp #Save12HKYouths
Hongkongers Send Christmas Cards to Support 12 Pro-democracy Protesters Detained by China; HK Student: We Shoulder the Pain Together

The "Save 12 Hong Kong Youths Concern Group" recently launched a campaign to send Christmas cards to the 12 Hongkongers who have been detained by the Chinese authority for over 100 days.

Yau Tsim Mong District Councilor Chu Kong-wai organized the Christmas card station on December 18, 2020 in Mong Kok, hoping that Hong Kong people would keep paying attention to the 12 detainees to protect them from inhuman treatment.

Candice, a secondary school student who joined the campaign said that she hopes to shoulder the pain experienced by the 12 HongKongers, so that they know that Hong Kong people have always been by their side,

"I hope that they can insist on their ideas, they have done nothing wrong." The HKSAR government earlier stated that the Liber Studies subject should be reformed. Candice said that the Liberal Studies teacher mentioned the 12 Hongkongers before in class but did not discuss it in depth, "I could feel the pressure borne by the Liberal Studies teacher, but s/he told us that s/he would teach us until nothing was allowed to teach."

Mr. Ho, who is in his 50s and works in the air transport industry wrote on the Christmas card the words, "May Heaven destroy the CCP".

Regarding whether his Christmas card can be delivered to the 12 Hongkoners, Mr. Ho said, "I didn’t expect this card could be successfully delivered when I wrote these words, but I will still say what I want to say.".

Mr. Ho said that his friend had been unjustly imprisoned in China for eight months, which has made him no longer believe in the judicial system of China.

Source: InMediahk #Dec19
https://bit.ly/3arkxcM

#Christmas2020 #Save12 #BringThemBack

#Interview #HongkongersVoice
Hongkonger in Exile: "I use my lifetime to defend the Hongkonger identity"

Part 1:
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/27836

Part 2:

#SunnyCheung Kwan-yang was a former spokesman of #NetworkDIPLO who was active in international lobbying. He decided to leave Hong Kong in August 2020 for a life of exile.

In an interview in 2020, Chrung expressed he missed the time of setting street booths during elections in Hong Kong. In contrast to dealing with high-rank politicians in international lobbying now, he was at that time really getting in touch with Hongkongers, chatting with passers-by, and enjoying snacks from supporters. ‘Interacting with the people, talking to them closely, are what I treasure.’

While he is now abroad and safe, the fact that his comrades-in-arms are being arrested one after another makes him feel guilty and struggling. ‘Was it a correct decision to leave Hong Kong? Have I abandoned my comrades-in-arms?’ Upheavals in Hong Kong sadden him. ‘Lonely exile. No more connection with people in Hong Kong. As a stranger, everything needs to start from scratch.’

‘Every day I need to remind myself not to indulge in sadness. I need to become stronger.’

Asked if he had any words for the brothers in Hong Kong, he wanted to say ‘cheers and take care’, but held his tongue on second thought.

‘As a matter of fact, efforts we make abroad are always cheap. We can only play the role of supporter. We talk about solidarity and support, cheering up brothers and sisters, and asking them to take care, but except talking we can do nothing else…’ He advised Hongkongers that ‘despite the feebleness, gloom and absurdity of reality, [Hongkongers] still choose to be hopeful. It is all because hope forms the very basis of survival and resistance. This hope is the very source of strength.’

‘During exile, I reshuffle my life, which is a process of spiritual awakening. I will hold on to my faith, and use my lifetime to defend the Hongkonger identity.’

Living abroad and bearing in heart Hong Kong his homeland – this is Cheung’s promise to Hong Kong.

Source: Stand News #Dec29
https://bit.ly/2KRH9sg

#HongkongersVoice #Injustice
Musician #RonoFok Encourages Hongkongers to Fight On After Being Arrested over National Security Probe
 
Hong Kong musician Rono Fok wrote his reflection on facebook on January 18, 2021, after he was arrested and detained by the Hong Kong police for national security violation on January 14:

"I was detained by the National Security police for more than 40 hours. During which, I was once handcuffed to a chain around my waist when being escorted from the Chai Wan police station to the North Point police station. I have also subjected to dozens times of body search. One time I had to strip all my clothes from my upper body.
 
Around 6am on January 14, 2021, six National Security police officers arrested me at my home in Shau Kei Wan. They accused me of aiding 12 pro-democracy Hongkongers to flee to Taiwan.

Except me, all my family members suffered permanent mental disabilities. I am always thankful for their love and care. When the police arrested me and raided my home, no one from my family has shed one drop of tear, until the moment when the police dragged me away to the lift lobby.

My mother, who is immobile and her right hand disabled, followed closely behind just to have one last look at me. She growled and asked, “What is Hong Kong becoming of?”
 
I was tranported between the Chai Wan and the North Point police stations, where I interrogated for 3 times under recordings. The National security officers asked me around 300 to 400 questions.

Although meals and drinks were provided, I suffered from hallucination and very mild incontinence when detained in the North Point police station.
It was a cold evening when the temperature dropped below 10 degrees celsius.
 
When I was escorted from North Point Police Station to Chai Wan, we drove by King’s Road. I recalled the time I went to the nursery, primary school, secondary school and university. I miss my friends and schoolmates. I used to hang out at the park and the ball courts, grab lunch with my schoolmates and play video games in internet café after school.
 
Perhaps, I will be charged and I will sit for court hearing or even face jail, but I will never give up music and art. I will keep on learning to become your favourite artist.  
 
In case of imprisonment, I will write about my music and stories. My mother is not eloquent, but I hope to share her words to all of you, 'Hongkongers, fight on!'”

Source: Rono Fok's Facebook; Stand News, #Jan18

https://www.facebook.com/RONOFOK/posts/1154216091675415

#PoliceState #Authoritarianism
#NationalSecurityLaw #Save12 #Save12HongKongYouths #Musician

#Interview #HongkongersVoice
Arrested Pro-democracy Uni Student is Not Pessimistic: "The Movement is About Seeking an Ideal, Which Can Only Come True through Practice"

Part 1:

Ah Ling (pseudonym), is a MPhil postgraduate student in Philosophy at Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK). He is also one of 1.03 million citizens who took to the street on 9 June, 2019 to protest against the government’s willful introduction of extradition to China.

At the end of the rally, he headed to the Legislative Council (#LegCo) building to offer help, knowing his fellow protesters needed assistance. Shortly after he arrived at the LegCo building, a large team of police broke into protesters’ defense and arrested Ah Ling and six others.

The seven of them were dragged into the Legco building and forced down on their knees in front of a wall. They knelt there for for five hours. In November 2020, Ah Ling was charged with illegal assembly for piling up mills barriers.

On January 13, 2021, Ah Ling decided to plead guilty. In court, his lawyer stated that Ah Ling was graduated with first class honors and received 18 scholarships in three years. It is likely that he will lose the opportunity to study a Ph.D at Yale University.

Ah Ling was at last sentenced to 16 weeks of imprisonment.

“Actually, many Philosophy students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have been arrested, accounting for quite a large faction of the total arrestees. For God knows why, we kept being arrested.” Ah Ling said it lightly.

“In times like this, many of us felt being summoned and urged to do something following our [philosophical] training."

Ah Ling said Hongkongers' involvement in the pro-democracy movement came from the “sense of justice”. “We genuinely see the importance in seeking justice in Hong Kong. So willingly, we put in our time and efforts.”

Commenting on the arrests of Jimmy Lai and 12 Youths, Ah Ling expressed, “the authorities will not let go any slightest chance to scourge us.”

The current silence at the street is built up at the expense of disquiet minds and raging hearts. At the end of the Umbrella Movement in 2014, a regression took place. As of this moment, social activism in Hong Kong has seemingly slumped into another state of speechlessness and helplessness. Many people asked how could they carry on?

With reference to history, Ah Ling acknowledged a long and tough journey ahead, “there are too many races going extinct in history. Nobody is giving shit to the so-called resistance and sacrifice. All those brave deeds have been deeply buried in our history.”

But he is not pessimistic.

Ah Ling said, “it doesn’t matter … do not presume that you are going to see any achievement in your lifetime, or like some commentators claimed - the coming two weeks are the most critical. It’s better to drop this mentality altogether.”

“The entire movement is about seeking an ideal, which can only come true through our practice.”

Source: Stand News #Jan21
https://bit.ly/3iyYrXF

#ProtestersStory #Arrest #PhilosophyStudent #University #Youth #Future #Justice

#Interview #HongKongersVoice
Transcending Fear: Hong Kong Social Worker Vows for the Quest for Freedom, Out of His Love for Hong Kong

Reflecting on the year-long anti-ELAB movement in Hong Kong in 2019, social worker Hendick Lui Chi-Hang said, “I have been increasingly involved and more and more forth coming in each protest. For many times, I told myself that this time is going to be the last time and I have to overcome my limit.”

Despite that, there has been “next time”. Lui said, “Probably, it is out of my love to this land.”

It could also be rage. Lui elaborated, “You might also see it as ‘I can’t stand it’. There are some small things that we could do, though these things might not be useful, we should continue doing it.”

What if one day he was arrested and being sent to China for trial?

It seems that Lui was sharing his thoughts to the reporter, but also talking in melancholy, “it doesn’t matter. I believe as long as there are Hongkongers, there will be a pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, fighting for freedom.”

Source: InMedia, #Jan22
https://bit.ly/3p87xgt

#LuiChiHang #SocialWorker #HKProtest #NeverGiveUp

#Court
#HongkongersVoice #Letter
Former #StudentsUnion President #OwenAu: "We can still strive for the future we want by our actions from moment to moment"

Part 1 / 3

[Editor's note:

The following is a letter written by Owen Au Cheuk-hei, the former president of the Students' Union of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK). The letter was submitted to the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong on May18, 2021, where the 22-year-old Au was trialed for "participating in an unauthorized assembly", "possessing weapons" and "obstructing justice" among other charges in a pro-democracy protest on October 20, 2019.

On the same day in court, Au has been convicted and the court will deliver his sentence on June 2, 2021.]

"That year, the feeling of hopelessness led to a wave of student suicides. One youth after another became overwhelmed by the feeling of darkness as they could not see their future, and ended their brief lives.

One of my best friends was among them; he departed suddenly, without leaving a word behind. After that, I spent countless days and nights curled up on my bed, watching countless sunrises and sunsets outside my window, berating myself for being unable to prevent the tragedy from happening.

It was then that I began to doubt the phrase 'determining my own destiny'. No matter how my self-determined spirit struggles, it could not slow down the fall and corruption of this land by even a little bit.

So I began to think that, in this cruel society, self-determination was probably only an absurd joke.

I was caught up in all these depressing emotions when I came to find Buddhism. I reached a relevation one day, and understood that all things came from dependent arising, and are emptiness by nature; whether times are good or bad, nothing is permanent, and nothing lasts forever.

From this, I learned to put aside my own preconceptions, and let go of my own honor and disgrace. I no longer worry whether every effort I paid would be rewarded. I only concern myself with whether what I think and do are improving myself, those around me, and the world I live in. The past cannot be changed; the present is bound by the past; but the future is determined by our choices today.

Even though much of the world is beyond our control, even beyond our knowledge, we can still strive for the future we want by our actions from moment to moment. Perhaps this is what 'determining my own destiny' really meant. This is how, through faith, I found the strength to carry on living, and the courage to meet my own future destiny."

Source: InMedia #May18
https://bit.ly/3tQqQg0

#PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliticalSuppression #PoliceState #HongKongProtests #AntiELAB

#Court #HongkongersVoice #Letter
Former #StudentsUnion President #OwenAu: "I see hope...many people are still striving for Hong Kong"

Part 2 / 3

[Editor's note:

The following is a letter written by Owen Au Cheuk-hei, the former president of the Students' Union of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK). The letter was submitted to the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong on May18, 2021, where the 22-year-old Au was trialed for "participating in an unauthorized assembly", "possessing weapons" and "obstructing justice" among other charges in a pro-democracy protest on October 20, 2019.

On the same day in court, Au has been convicted and the court will deliver his sentence on June 2, 2021.]

Previously, Part 1:
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/29797

"...As stated in my case, I was arrested during a protest on Oct 20, 2019, which was 576 days ago.

During this period of time, nearly ten thousand citizens had come under arrest due to the movement or other political reasons. More and more people are forced to leave Hong Kong, with no chance in sight for their return.

This development is surely the opposite of the outcome that many had hoped for: 'determining our own destiny', or democratic self-governance.

After my arrest, a police officer asked me mockingly: What did I feel I've achieved by taking to the streets?

Thinking back now, over these 576 days, it certainly seemed like I've achieved nothing, except losing more and more fellow students and friends. Undoubtedly, this caused me more pain than the court case now being brought against me.

However, different from the overwhelming feeling of powerlessness in the years past, today I do not feel hopeless at all, and have not given up on my belief in 'determining our own destiny'.

These 576 days had been long and full of changes. There had been trauma and pain, but at the same time, I see hope. Because I know that, outside of the courts and prisons, out of sight of others, many people are still striving quietly for Hong Kong, taking up the fight in place those who have fallen.

Local business owners absorb losses to make their Hong Kong brands shine; artists and creative minds are working day and night to reclaim the city's coveted reputation of 'number one in Asia'.

These Hongkongers are full of life and dreams, and I can feel the immeasurable bravery and wisdom in them. Before such great people, I feel humble, and have no more excuses to wallow in self-pity.

They make me firmly believe that this city is not fated to spiral downward forever; this city will create infinite possibilities for the future."

Source: InMedia #May18
https://bit.ly/3tQqQg0

#PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliticalSuppression #PoliceState #HongKongProtests #AntiELAB

#Court #HongkongersVoice #Letter
Former #StudentsUnion President #OwenAu: "No matter what awaits us in the future, I believe that our generation is one who determines our own destiny"

[Editor's note:

The following is a letter written by Owen Au Cheuk-hei, the former president of the Students' Union of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK). The letter was submitted to the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong on May18, 2021, where the 22-year-old Au was trialed for "participating in an unauthorized assembly", "possessing weapons" and "obstructing justice" among other charges in a pro-democracy protest on October 20, 2019.

On the same day in court, Au has been convicted and the court will deliver his sentence on June 2, 2021.]

Previously, Part 1:
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/29797

Part 2:
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/29805

Part 3:

"...Nobel Prize laureate Albert Camus used to say, 'Each generation doubtless feels called upon to reform the world. Mine knows that it will not reform it, but its task is perhaps even greater. It consists in preventing the world from destroying itself.'

Due to historical reasons, our generation has no choice but to be born into a Hong Kong where political rights and the room for free speech are dwindling day by day.

Two summers ago, we chose to fight back against the fate that was forced upon us, demonstrating to the world our determination to take hold of our own destiny. Now is the time that we take up the responsibility for our choice.

The world is changing, perhaps for better, or perhaps it is crumbling. But no matter what awaits us in the future, I believe that our generation is one who determines our own destiny:

we all hold fast to our own duties in our own ways, striving to create a new, beautiful era that we can truly call our own."

Source: InMedia #May18
https://bit.ly/3tQqQg0

#PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliticalSuppression #PoliceState #HongKongProtests #AntiELAB