#HongkongersVoice #NeverGiveUp
From Street Protests to Funding Eyeglasses and Medical Support: Resistance Goes On in Hong Kong

Part 1/2

Hong Ming Optical wrote its Facebook, “It is free to get the right pair of glasses to see the world clearly. Don’t confound black and white.”

Currently, the “Glasses Fund” has been halted due to the decrease in street demonstrations. Mr Chiu, the owner of Hong Ming Optical, said part of the “Glasses Fund” had been used to support students' medical treatment expenses. Although street demonstrations were not possible at this moment, Mr Chiu believed that the pro-democracy movement would come back again, “We must go further ahead compared to 2019.”

Wearing black thin-frame eyeglasses, Mr Chiu is a 31-year-old registered optometrist. He is tall and skinny wearing white T-shit with the look of a gentleman.

Mr Chiu recounted the reason behind starting the “Glasses Fund”: One day, the son of a customer came to his shop along. The boy was covered with wounds and scars and hoped to get a pair of basic glasses to go to school. After Mr Chiu asked, the boy said the riot police broke his glasses during a protest. However, due to the difference in political stance, his parents refused to pay for his new glasses and told me, “you chose to go out. Now, you pay for your own decision.”

Mr Chiu didn’t charge the boy anything after making him a new pair of glasses. Mr. Chiu just told the boy, “you may go.”

Since the “Glasses Fund” has been established, customers in the neighbourhood and those living further away came to Mr Chiu's shop. After they bought new glasses, they usually told Mr Chiu, “Please keep the change.”

Mr Chiu understood their intention and the change was kept in the fund. The fund has brought new eyeglasses to more than 200 people.

Source: InMedia #Nov22
https://bit.ly/3kRn6Gv

#YellowStore #HongMingOptical #EyeGlasses #HongKongProtests
#Future

#HongkongersVoice #NeverGiveUp
Pro-democracy Optical Store Owner: "We Will Go Even Further in the Future"

Part 1/2
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26931

Part 2/2

Mr Chiu, owner of Hong Ming Optical which offers free eyeglasses to pro-democracy students, graduated from the Optometry Department of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU).

He started participating in social movement since the anti-Express Rail-link protest against the demolition of the Choi Yuen Village in 2008. “I was moved by the prostrating walk [by the protesters].”

After that, he joined the protest against national education and the 2014 umbrella revolution. When he was asked if society matters a lot to him, he replied immediately, “No, the society is not that important to me, but I can’t stay silent and do nothing.”

The pro-democracy posters and the promotional sticker of “Lost in the Fumes", a 2017-documentary about the localist icon Edward Leung, in the shop are Mr Chiu's answers.

During the interview, Mr Chiu mentioned he had helped in the election campaign of two localist groups "Hong Kong Indigenous" and "Youngspiration" in 2016 Legislative Election.

After Edward Leung, the spokeperson of "Hong Kong Indigenous" was jailed, Mr Chiu felt depressed and asked, “why did the youth have to suffer that? Why couldn't they be rewarded after putting so much effort?”

Just when Mr Chiu lamented that he might be the last generation of Hongkongers, Mr.Chiu changed his mind during the 2019 pro-democracy movement. “I thought the youths nowadays might have been brainwashed [by the authorities] and singing the national anthem," Mr Chiu said, "until I saw those 12 or 13-year-old kids... They were skinny and much shorter than me, but they stood in front of me [during protests].”

"I tried to persuade them to leave, but I failed. Then I have to stand in front of them," Mr Chiu said.

Mr Chiu has more than 50 friends being charged during the pro-democracy movement. That is why he always attends hearings. While Mr Chiu has a strong and muscular built, he cannot help but weeps bitterly in court. In order not to disturb others, he always sits at the last row.

While many professionals seem to have plans to leave Hong Kong, Mr Chiu was asked if he has thought about that. Mr Chiu jokingly replies, “Does working holiday count?” He then gave a serious answer, "Never."

Source: InMedia #Nov22
https://bit.ly/3kRn6Gv

#YellowStore #HongMingOptical #LostintheFumes #HongKongProtests

#HeartWarming #NeverGiveUp
Hongkongers Wish Pro-democracy Protesters Happy Birthday in #Court

Video: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30263

In a hearing relating to a pro-democracy protest on December 8, 2019, citizens went to the High Court on June 8, 2021 to voice support for the defendents who were charged by the prosecution with "conspiring to assault with intent".

Among the defendants, #LaiChunPong, the owner of the pro-democracy 'yellow' store 3C, and #CheungMingYu, who was one of the 12 Hongkongers arrested and jailed in China, both have their birthdays in June.

As the hearing came to an end, their families together with some supporting citizens, shouted "Happy Birthday" and "Fight On" to them.

As they were remanded and transported by the vehicle of the Correctional Services Department, their families and supporters unfurled a banner that read "Happy Birthday" on the street.

Lai's family members told the press they wished he could come home soon. They also mentioned that Lai was moved when other detainees made him a birthday cake inside the detention center.

Source: InMedia #Jun8
https://bit.ly/3ckmjfF

#Solidarity #HappyBirthday #YellowStore #3C #Save12 #PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner