Hong Kong’s Transformation: A Story of Lost Freedom
The article explores the dramatic changes in Hong Kong over the past decade, focusing on the erosion of democratic freedoms and the city’s evolving identity since the 1997 handover to China.
The narrative begins with Kenneth, a former activist, walking through Victoria Park – once a vibrant center of political resistance. He reminisces about his childhood experiences, from buying pro-democracy posters to attending Tiananmen Square memorial vigils. Now, those traditions have vanished, and the park’s character has fundamentally changed.
The transformation traces back to the 2014 Occupy Central movement, where tens of thousands of protesters demanded fully democratic elections. Led by activists like Joshua Wong and Benny Tai, this movement laid the groundwork for more intense protests in 2019, triggered by a proposed extradition law that would allow transfers to mainland China.
Beijing’s response has been decisive. Hundreds of pro-democracy activists have been jailed under the National Security Law (NSL), and thousands have fled abroad. The city’s once-vocal resistance has been systematically silenced. Activists like Benny Tai are now imprisoned, while others like Chan Kin-man have gone into exile in Taiwan.
The article illustrates the changes through personal stories. Kasumi Law, now living in the UK, represents those who chose to leave. She describes a gradual sense of unease that culminated in her decision to emigrate, driven by concerns about increasing Chinese control and diminishing freedoms.
For those who remain, like Kenneth, life has become more cautious. People now self-censor, aware that seemingly innocuous actions like wearing a t-shirt or posting on social media could lead to arrest. The city’s linguistic landscape has also shifted, with Mandarin increasingly replacing Cantonese.
Despite the crackdown, some residents like Kenneth remain committed to preserving the memory of Hong Kong’s democratic spirit. At his alma mater, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, he finds hidden traces of past protests – symbolic remnants of resistance that cannot be completely erased.
Kasumi, now in the UK, is determined to keep her Hongkonger identity alive. She speaks Cantonese with her daughter and teaches her to identify as a Hongkonger, not Chinese. Her daughter’s defiant response to being called Chinese represents a generational commitment to preserving Hong Kong’s distinct cultural identity.
The article portrays a city in mourning – its character fundamentally altered, its political freedoms curtailed, but its spirit not entirely extinguished. While Beijing claims to have brought stability, many see this as a systematic dismantling of Hong Kong’s unique autonomy.
As one activist poignantly notes, “Forgetting the past is a form of betrayal.” The story of Hong Kong is now one of remembrance, resistance, and hope – however quietly expressed.
