#PolyUSiege #LastYearToday #NeverForget
Frontliners and Supporters: Be Valiant or Be Peaceful? To Stay or to Leave? How Far Can One Go?
Source: CNews #Nov14
Image: Hong Kong Free Press
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⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26777
Frontliners and Supporters: Be Valiant or Be Peaceful? To Stay or to Leave? How Far Can One Go?
Source: CNews #Nov14
Image: Hong Kong Free Press
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26777
#PolyUSiege #LastYearToday #NeverForget
Frontliners and Supporters: Be Valiant or Be Peaceful? To Stay or to Leave? How Far Can One Go?
Part 1/4:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26738
Part 2/4
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26748
Part 3 / 4
"The committee held discussions on whether to stay or to leave the campus," the acting president of #PolyU Student Union Ken Woo said.
“One of our members was a nursing student, and you could not become a nurse if you have a criminal record. We wanted those who had family responsibilities to leave and help from the outside where it's less risky, and those who were willing to shoulder the consequences to stay inside”.
The 18 members of the Students' Union did not spend a lot of time together, as each worked in their own ways towards the same goal in different places.
“I'm not the muscular type”, Ken said, “One might say that it doesn’t make much difference whether I stay at the frontline or not. But I think my participation was more of an emotional support to the frontliners. I had no reason to leave”.
When being asked whether he felt sad when he was the last among the 18 members to stay behind, Ken replied: “I actually wanted them to leave as soon as possible. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, especially my committee members. The longer they stayed, the higher the chance of getting arrested. Moreover, staying in the campus also was a heavy burden on one’s mind.”
Source: CNews #Nov14
https://tinyurl.com/y3vspxq7
#KenWoo #PolyU #StudentsUnion #Valiant #Frontliners #HongKongProtests #ProtestersStory #AntiElab #HongKongChronicles
#Interview
Frontliners and Supporters: Be Valiant or Be Peaceful? To Stay or to Leave? How Far Can One Go?
Part 1/4:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26738
Part 2/4
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26748
Part 3 / 4
"The committee held discussions on whether to stay or to leave the campus," the acting president of #PolyU Student Union Ken Woo said.
“One of our members was a nursing student, and you could not become a nurse if you have a criminal record. We wanted those who had family responsibilities to leave and help from the outside where it's less risky, and those who were willing to shoulder the consequences to stay inside”.
The 18 members of the Students' Union did not spend a lot of time together, as each worked in their own ways towards the same goal in different places.
“I'm not the muscular type”, Ken said, “One might say that it doesn’t make much difference whether I stay at the frontline or not. But I think my participation was more of an emotional support to the frontliners. I had no reason to leave”.
When being asked whether he felt sad when he was the last among the 18 members to stay behind, Ken replied: “I actually wanted them to leave as soon as possible. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, especially my committee members. The longer they stayed, the higher the chance of getting arrested. Moreover, staying in the campus also was a heavy burden on one’s mind.”
Source: CNews #Nov14
https://tinyurl.com/y3vspxq7
#KenWoo #PolyU #StudentsUnion #Valiant #Frontliners #HongKongProtests #ProtestersStory #AntiElab #HongKongChronicles
#Interview
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📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#LastYearToday #Interview
One Year On: PolyU Student Recalls Traumatic Memory of #PolyUSiege
Part 1/4
[Editor's note: The Hong Kong Police attacked the Polytechnic University for the first time on Nov 11, 2019 and intensively since Nov 17. On Nov 18, thousands…
One Year On: PolyU Student Recalls Traumatic Memory of #PolyUSiege
Part 1/4
[Editor's note: The Hong Kong Police attacked the Polytechnic University for the first time on Nov 11, 2019 and intensively since Nov 17. On Nov 18, thousands…
#PolyUSiege #LastYearToday
After the Police Siege, #PolyU Student: There are stories in every corner of this campus
Source: CNews #Nov14
Image: Lam Yik Fei / New York Times
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26802
After the Police Siege, #PolyU Student: There are stories in every corner of this campus
Source: CNews #Nov14
Image: Lam Yik Fei / New York Times
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26802
#PolyUSiege #LastYearToday
After the Police Siege, #PolyU Student: There are stories in every corner of this campus
Part 1/4:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26738
Part 2/4
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26748
Part 3 / 4
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26777
Part 4/4
Ken Woo Kwok-wang was serving as acting president of the PolyU Student Union when he witnessed the anxiety, desolation, and fear inside the besieged campus in 2019. At the time, he was only 22 years old.
On the morning of Nov 11, 2019, the police fired two tear gas shots into the campus. By the dark night of Nov 23, 2019, the campus had become a ghost town.
Ken was born in 1997; he has two sisters. He considered himself fortunate, as his parents supported him and took pride in him. His father had escaped to Hong Kong after the Cultural Revolution in China, and had deep impressions of how the authoritarian government suppressed its people, as well as the lasting harm caused by their public criticism sessions.
Ken's father told him: "Don't give up your life; you have to outlive these cops."
After stepping out of the #PolyU campus, he was brought to Hung Hom Police Station. However, he experienced stomach cramps from not having a decent meal for a whole week, so he was soon transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
"After eating white bread for a whole week, prison food actually tastes good," he joked, obviously in dark humor.
While being trapped in the campus, he saw many people who were traumatized and emotionally on edge, including himself. However, he told himself to step up and not fear, because he knew the goal he had set for himself.
"If you want to help others, you cannot be scared. Even if you are, you cannot show it. If you are scared, how can you convince others to stay calm? You can't."
After coming out of the hospital, Ken spent 2 months to let his emotions sink in. He remembered the fear that he buried in his heart during the ordeal, and realized how scared he was. Many doubts and questions had surfaced in his mind, which made him even more depressed.
Ken sought counselling after school had resumed. He was afraid to revisit certain areas in the campus, such as Core Y; as soon as he approaches the area, the traumatic memories return to him. "I remember that the morning was cold. Many people were sprayed by the police water cannon the night before. There were about 20 people wrapped in blankets, shaking in the cold, desperate to escape. I'm actually still afraid to face these memories. There is a story like that in every corner of this campus."
Now that the siege of PolyU had passed, he said, agony was the only memory left in his mind.
Image: Lam Yik Fei / New York Times
Source: Cnews #Nov14
https://tinyurl.com/y3vspxq7
#KenWoo #Trauma #PoliceBrutality #HongKongProtests #ProtestersStory #AntiElab
#Agony #HongKongChronicles
#Interview
After the Police Siege, #PolyU Student: There are stories in every corner of this campus
Part 1/4:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26738
Part 2/4
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26748
Part 3 / 4
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26777
Part 4/4
Ken Woo Kwok-wang was serving as acting president of the PolyU Student Union when he witnessed the anxiety, desolation, and fear inside the besieged campus in 2019. At the time, he was only 22 years old.
On the morning of Nov 11, 2019, the police fired two tear gas shots into the campus. By the dark night of Nov 23, 2019, the campus had become a ghost town.
Ken was born in 1997; he has two sisters. He considered himself fortunate, as his parents supported him and took pride in him. His father had escaped to Hong Kong after the Cultural Revolution in China, and had deep impressions of how the authoritarian government suppressed its people, as well as the lasting harm caused by their public criticism sessions.
Ken's father told him: "Don't give up your life; you have to outlive these cops."
After stepping out of the #PolyU campus, he was brought to Hung Hom Police Station. However, he experienced stomach cramps from not having a decent meal for a whole week, so he was soon transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
"After eating white bread for a whole week, prison food actually tastes good," he joked, obviously in dark humor.
While being trapped in the campus, he saw many people who were traumatized and emotionally on edge, including himself. However, he told himself to step up and not fear, because he knew the goal he had set for himself.
"If you want to help others, you cannot be scared. Even if you are, you cannot show it. If you are scared, how can you convince others to stay calm? You can't."
After coming out of the hospital, Ken spent 2 months to let his emotions sink in. He remembered the fear that he buried in his heart during the ordeal, and realized how scared he was. Many doubts and questions had surfaced in his mind, which made him even more depressed.
Ken sought counselling after school had resumed. He was afraid to revisit certain areas in the campus, such as Core Y; as soon as he approaches the area, the traumatic memories return to him. "I remember that the morning was cold. Many people were sprayed by the police water cannon the night before. There were about 20 people wrapped in blankets, shaking in the cold, desperate to escape. I'm actually still afraid to face these memories. There is a story like that in every corner of this campus."
Now that the siege of PolyU had passed, he said, agony was the only memory left in his mind.
Image: Lam Yik Fei / New York Times
Source: Cnews #Nov14
https://tinyurl.com/y3vspxq7
#KenWoo #Trauma #PoliceBrutality #HongKongProtests #ProtestersStory #AntiElab
#Agony #HongKongChronicles
#Interview
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#LastYearToday #Interview
One Year On: PolyU Student Recalls Traumatic Memory of #PolyUSiege
Part 1/4
[Editor's note: The Hong Kong Police attacked the Polytechnic University for the first time on Nov 11, 2019 and intensively since Nov 17. On Nov 18, thousands…
One Year On: PolyU Student Recalls Traumatic Memory of #PolyUSiege
Part 1/4
[Editor's note: The Hong Kong Police attacked the Polytechnic University for the first time on Nov 11, 2019 and intensively since Nov 17. On Nov 18, thousands…
#University #HongKongYouth
New Cabinet Member of PolyU Student Union vows to continue fighting on student front for freedom and democracy
In November 2019, Hong Kong police violently attacked pro-democracy protesters in the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) and Polytechnic University of Hong Kong (#PolyU).
In #PolyUSeige, more than a thousand protesters were arrested and over 300 underaged had their personal information marked down by police.
More than a year later, the new cabinet of #PolyU Student Union was formed. It was said that the PolyU student union cabinet and the #CUHK student union cabinet would perhaps the only two cabinets to be formed this year.
Different from the #CUHK “senior” cabinet, which was formed by Year 3 students, 12 of the 17 cabinet members of PolyU student union are “underaged”, including the President and Vice-Presidents.
The newly elected President, Alan Wu, is a year 1 freshman. He admitted in bitter grin that it has been a “wasted freshman year” due to the coronavirus pandemic. Not only that they have been deprived a normal senior college life and University life, but they have also witnessed their classmates being violently pinned to the ground by riot police, arrested and charged with riots.
During anti-ELAB movement, some of their friends even sacrificed their lives, leaving behind last words for people to carry on protesting.
They described themselves a generation of “distorted youth” by authoritarianism. For the same reason, the three cabinet members of PolyU student union stood up for pro-democracy movement on student front.
Source: Stand News, #Feb10
======
Related article
One Year On: PolyU Student Recalls Traumatic Memory of #PolyUSiege
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26738
#Future #NextGeneration #HongKongStudents #StudentsUnion
New Cabinet Member of PolyU Student Union vows to continue fighting on student front for freedom and democracy
In November 2019, Hong Kong police violently attacked pro-democracy protesters in the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) and Polytechnic University of Hong Kong (#PolyU).
In #PolyUSeige, more than a thousand protesters were arrested and over 300 underaged had their personal information marked down by police.
More than a year later, the new cabinet of #PolyU Student Union was formed. It was said that the PolyU student union cabinet and the #CUHK student union cabinet would perhaps the only two cabinets to be formed this year.
Different from the #CUHK “senior” cabinet, which was formed by Year 3 students, 12 of the 17 cabinet members of PolyU student union are “underaged”, including the President and Vice-Presidents.
The newly elected President, Alan Wu, is a year 1 freshman. He admitted in bitter grin that it has been a “wasted freshman year” due to the coronavirus pandemic. Not only that they have been deprived a normal senior college life and University life, but they have also witnessed their classmates being violently pinned to the ground by riot police, arrested and charged with riots.
During anti-ELAB movement, some of their friends even sacrificed their lives, leaving behind last words for people to carry on protesting.
They described themselves a generation of “distorted youth” by authoritarianism. For the same reason, the three cabinet members of PolyU student union stood up for pro-democracy movement on student front.
Source: Stand News, #Feb10
======
Related article
One Year On: PolyU Student Recalls Traumatic Memory of #PolyUSiege
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26738
#Future #NextGeneration #HongKongStudents #StudentsUnion
#FirstHand #Feb19
HK Authorities Prosecute 12 People for Riotting in #PolyUSiege; Police Ticket and Arrest Pro-democracy Supporters
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28680
HK Authorities Prosecute 12 People for Riotting in #PolyUSiege; Police Ticket and Arrest Pro-democracy Supporters
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28680
#FirstHand #Feb19
HK Authorities Prosecute 12 People for Riotting in #PolyUSiege; Police Ticket and Arrest Pro-democracy Supporters
On Feb 19, 2021, the Hong Kong police arrested 12 people at midnight. The police accused them of "rioting" for their reported presence in the campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) during the police siege of the university in November 2019.
More than one year after, the 12 Hongkongers were the first ones to be prosecuted among the 200 arrests made in PolyU. They were mentioned in the Kowloon City Magistrates on the late afternoon of the same day. The court refused to grant bail for 11 of them, apart from one being a voluntary first aider. The group will be detained until the next hearing in March 2021.
At round 21:30, 22 citizens (7 men and 15 women) in support of the pro-democracy movement showed support for the arrestees outside of the court. The police ticketed and fined all of them for the violatiok of the 599G gathering ban. Among the supporters, the police arrested a man in his twenties, for finding an 'Octopus' travel card with a name different than his.
See photos:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28679
The young man was taken away in the police car with the license number AM7057.
#PoliceState #Court #MassArrest #FirstAider #Rioting #599G #OctopusCard
HK Authorities Prosecute 12 People for Riotting in #PolyUSiege; Police Ticket and Arrest Pro-democracy Supporters
On Feb 19, 2021, the Hong Kong police arrested 12 people at midnight. The police accused them of "rioting" for their reported presence in the campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) during the police siege of the university in November 2019.
More than one year after, the 12 Hongkongers were the first ones to be prosecuted among the 200 arrests made in PolyU. They were mentioned in the Kowloon City Magistrates on the late afternoon of the same day. The court refused to grant bail for 11 of them, apart from one being a voluntary first aider. The group will be detained until the next hearing in March 2021.
At round 21:30, 22 citizens (7 men and 15 women) in support of the pro-democracy movement showed support for the arrestees outside of the court. The police ticketed and fined all of them for the violatiok of the 599G gathering ban. Among the supporters, the police arrested a man in his twenties, for finding an 'Octopus' travel card with a name different than his.
See photos:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28679
The young man was taken away in the police car with the license number AM7057.
#PoliceState #Court #MassArrest #FirstAider #Rioting #599G #OctopusCard
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📡Guardians of Hong Kong
Documentary Film ‘Inside the Red Brick Wall’ Pulled from Hong Kong Release
An award-winning Hong Kong protest documentary, “Inside the Red Brick Wall” has been pulled out at the last minute from a local cinema, despite overwhelming public support.
In Hong Kong, the #GoldenSceneCinema announced on its Instagram page on March 15, 2021 that screenings of “Inside the Red Brick Wall” later that day and others scheduled for March 21, 2021 will be canceled.
The cinema apologized for the inconvenience caused, asked for movie-goers’ understanding and offered refunds.
The Hong Kong Film Critics Society and the Cinema’s decision came soon after #CCP mouth-piece’s heavy critic four days ago.
An editorial on Wen Wei Po blamed that a public screening of the film would incite hatred of China’s central government, the Hong Kong government and the police, which may violate the #NationalSecurityLaw.The paper also accused the film of violating the Film Censorship Ordinance due to its coarse language and detailed depiction of violence.
Notes to editors:
“Inside the Red Brick Wall” was part of a screening series of winners of the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards staged at Golden Scene Cinema, a recently-opened outlet operated by homegrown film company Golden Scene. It was named as best film by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society in January, 2021 and it would have been the first time the film had a commercial screening.
#CCP #Oppression
#YingEChi #GoldenScene #Censorship #PolyUSiege #InsidetheRedBrickWall
Source: Stand News #Mar15
https://bit.ly/3vqR9ev
An award-winning Hong Kong protest documentary, “Inside the Red Brick Wall” has been pulled out at the last minute from a local cinema, despite overwhelming public support.
In Hong Kong, the #GoldenSceneCinema announced on its Instagram page on March 15, 2021 that screenings of “Inside the Red Brick Wall” later that day and others scheduled for March 21, 2021 will be canceled.
The cinema apologized for the inconvenience caused, asked for movie-goers’ understanding and offered refunds.
The Hong Kong Film Critics Society and the Cinema’s decision came soon after #CCP mouth-piece’s heavy critic four days ago.
An editorial on Wen Wei Po blamed that a public screening of the film would incite hatred of China’s central government, the Hong Kong government and the police, which may violate the #NationalSecurityLaw.The paper also accused the film of violating the Film Censorship Ordinance due to its coarse language and detailed depiction of violence.
Notes to editors:
“Inside the Red Brick Wall” was part of a screening series of winners of the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards staged at Golden Scene Cinema, a recently-opened outlet operated by homegrown film company Golden Scene. It was named as best film by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society in January, 2021 and it would have been the first time the film had a commercial screening.
#CCP #Oppression
#YingEChi #GoldenScene #Censorship #PolyUSiege #InsidetheRedBrickWall
Source: Stand News #Mar15
https://bit.ly/3vqR9ev
#PoliticalPrisoner #MassArrest
#PolyUSiege: HK Police Arrests 21 Civilians Including Student Standing in Public Exam
The police arrested 21 civilians in Hong Kong on the morning of April 26, 2021. The arrestees have refused bail in the Hong Kpng Polytechnic University (#PolyU) clash during the 2019 Anti-ELAB protest.
The Organised Crime and Triad Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force charged them with “perverting the course of justice” as they were suspected of assisting other civilians trapped in the PolyU campus to avoid from being tracked.
Stand News found that one of the arrestees is a public exam HKDSE candidate who was absent for the subject Liberal Studies - Paper 1 exam due to police detention.
His/ her educational pathway will be obstructed as this paper accounts for 56% of the assessment, which is a core subject and required to obtain at least a level 2 in university admission.
Source: Stand News #Apr23
https://bit.ly/3aCvqb2
#PoliceState #PoliticalSuppression
#PolyUSiege: HK Police Arrests 21 Civilians Including Student Standing in Public Exam
The police arrested 21 civilians in Hong Kong on the morning of April 26, 2021. The arrestees have refused bail in the Hong Kpng Polytechnic University (#PolyU) clash during the 2019 Anti-ELAB protest.
The Organised Crime and Triad Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force charged them with “perverting the course of justice” as they were suspected of assisting other civilians trapped in the PolyU campus to avoid from being tracked.
Stand News found that one of the arrestees is a public exam HKDSE candidate who was absent for the subject Liberal Studies - Paper 1 exam due to police detention.
His/ her educational pathway will be obstructed as this paper accounts for 56% of the assessment, which is a core subject and required to obtain at least a level 2 in university admission.
Source: Stand News #Apr23
https://bit.ly/3aCvqb2
#PoliceState #PoliticalSuppression
#Court
Hong Kong Court Sends Three More Pro-democracy Protesters to Over 5 years in Jail for "Rioting", Causing Public Grievances
On September 25, 2021, the district court convicted three pro-democracy protesters of "rioting" during the police siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) in November 2019. The three young people were arrested during clashes in nearby Jordan as citizens attempted to break the police siege. They are sentenced to jail terms ranging from 5 years to 5 years and 8 months.
The defendants were calm when hearing the sentence. When the court adjourned, pro-democracy supporters waved to them and said, "hang on!". Some shout to the court, "there are no rioters, only tyranny!" and "Shame!"
Meanwhile, the mother of the principle defendant wept, shouting "unfair", "killing the innocent" and "my son is not guilty!" She continued to cry and almost collapsed in the corridor.
The families of other defendants tried to console her, pointing out that her son would be saddened seeing his mother in such a state: "We have to go through this together. We understand. It is not like we do not feel anything".
Many people in the courtroom broke into tears, mourning their fellow pro-democracy Hongkongers.
Source: InMedia #Sept25
https://bit.ly/3F0M15Z
#PoliticalProsecution #Rioting #PolyUSiege #HongkongProtesters #Solidarity
Hong Kong Court Sends Three More Pro-democracy Protesters to Over 5 years in Jail for "Rioting", Causing Public Grievances
On September 25, 2021, the district court convicted three pro-democracy protesters of "rioting" during the police siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) in November 2019. The three young people were arrested during clashes in nearby Jordan as citizens attempted to break the police siege. They are sentenced to jail terms ranging from 5 years to 5 years and 8 months.
The defendants were calm when hearing the sentence. When the court adjourned, pro-democracy supporters waved to them and said, "hang on!". Some shout to the court, "there are no rioters, only tyranny!" and "Shame!"
Meanwhile, the mother of the principle defendant wept, shouting "unfair", "killing the innocent" and "my son is not guilty!" She continued to cry and almost collapsed in the corridor.
The families of other defendants tried to console her, pointing out that her son would be saddened seeing his mother in such a state: "We have to go through this together. We understand. It is not like we do not feel anything".
Many people in the courtroom broke into tears, mourning their fellow pro-democracy Hongkongers.
Source: InMedia #Sept25
https://bit.ly/3F0M15Z
#PoliticalProsecution #Rioting #PolyUSiege #HongkongProtesters #Solidarity
獨立媒體
【理大圍城】三人暴動罪成囚5年至5年8個月 被告母親拍枱尖叫：我個仔冇罪 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
（獨媒報導）前年11月警方圍封理大，市民發起行動「營救」被困人士，衝突蔓延至油麻地、佐敦及尖沙咀一帶。其中在佐敦被捕的五名男子被控暴動等罪，三人遭裁定暴動罪成，今（25日）於區域法院判刑。暫委法官王詩麗表示，案發現場出現持續至少兩小時的大規模暴動，示威者有備而來，無視警方警告，將現場「當成戰場發動猛烈攻擊」，對現場人士造成實際威脅，事後修理路面亦對公共
HK Documentary about #PolyUSiege Wins Grand Prize at International Documentary Festival in Japan
Source: Citizen News #Oct13
Read more
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Source: Citizen News #Oct13
Read more
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HK Documentary about #PolyUSiege Wins Grand Prize at International Documentary Festival in Japan
The documentary "Inside the Red Brick Wall", chronicling the 13-day police siege of #PolyU during the #AntiELAB movement, has won the grand prize at Japan's #Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. This honor has never been won by a Hong Kong film in its three-decade history, until now.
The film was selected as the best Hong Kong film of 2020 by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. However, it had been shunned by local cinemas after pro-government media labeled it anti-police and anti-government. Its premiere was cancelled only hours before its showing by the hosting cinema.
The panel of judges noted that the documentary showed citizens and students being trapped by the police inside Polytechnic University; it documented the reality of youngsters, including minors, as they faced these dire circumstances, whether or not they had food. Live footage also showed photographers being fired upon within the campus
[editor's note: according to statistics from Hong Kong Journalists Association, 3 journalists had been shot with pepper balls at close range].
The film itself carries historical significance.
The film's directors, listed as "Hong Kong Documentary Filmmakers", thanked the organizers through a pre-recorded video. They said that under Hong Kong's current oppressive environment, they must regroup and be formless like water, but believed that "we'll walk together again".
"To all who believe in freedom", they added, "The only response to oppression is resistance. We will keep moving, and keep on filming."
Source: Citizen News #Oct13
https://bit.ly/3awuc0v
#Film #Documentary #Resistance #ProtestArt #FilmFestival
The documentary "Inside the Red Brick Wall", chronicling the 13-day police siege of #PolyU during the #AntiELAB movement, has won the grand prize at Japan's #Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. This honor has never been won by a Hong Kong film in its three-decade history, until now.
The film was selected as the best Hong Kong film of 2020 by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. However, it had been shunned by local cinemas after pro-government media labeled it anti-police and anti-government. Its premiere was cancelled only hours before its showing by the hosting cinema.
The panel of judges noted that the documentary showed citizens and students being trapped by the police inside Polytechnic University; it documented the reality of youngsters, including minors, as they faced these dire circumstances, whether or not they had food. Live footage also showed photographers being fired upon within the campus
[editor's note: according to statistics from Hong Kong Journalists Association, 3 journalists had been shot with pepper balls at close range].
The film itself carries historical significance.
The film's directors, listed as "Hong Kong Documentary Filmmakers", thanked the organizers through a pre-recorded video. They said that under Hong Kong's current oppressive environment, they must regroup and be formless like water, but believed that "we'll walk together again".
"To all who believe in freedom", they added, "The only response to oppression is resistance. We will keep moving, and keep on filming."
Source: Citizen News #Oct13
https://bit.ly/3awuc0v
#Film #Documentary #Resistance #ProtestArt #FilmFestival
眾新聞
《理大圍城》奪日本山形國際紀錄片大獎 團隊：會繼續拍片
曾被戲院臨時腰斬放映的反送中運動紀錄片《理大圍城》再獲國際殊榮，在日本「山形國際紀錄片電影節」榮獲「羅伯及法蘭西斯佛萊厄提獎」國際大獎，此獎項為該電影節最高殊榮，過去三十多年從無香港電影奪得。
#PoliceState
IPCC Said Nothing Wrong with Hong Kong Police Shooting Journist without Warning during #PolyUSiege
Source: Stand News #Nov9
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
IPCC Said Nothing Wrong with Hong Kong Police Shooting Journist without Warning during #PolyUSiege
Source: Stand News #Nov9
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
#PoliceState
IPCC Said Nothing Wrong with Hong Kong Police Shooting Journist without Warning during #PolyUSiege
During the Anti-ELAB movement on November 18, 2019, pro-democracy protesters trapped in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) attempted to break through the cordon line; however, the police outflanked them by splitting into 3 routes.
When a journalist from #StandNews was interviewing an arrestee, whose face was covered with blood, a sheriff from the Z4 Police Tactic Unit (#PTU) suddenly shot a #PepperBalls to the journalist's feet without warning.
Two years later, the Complaints Against Police Office (#CAPO) ruled that there was "nothing wrong" and the Independent Police Complaints Council (#IPCC) agreed with the classification.
CAPO replied in a letter regarding the case, claiming that police did not have a choice but to shoot the pepper balls and apply a minimum level of violence to disperse the crowd. The letter said that the aim was to "protect the police and the arrestees" and the reason was that "someone was non-stop chasing after the police" and "the police has asked people on site to leave, but they ignored".
There is a footnote in the letter, claiming that there is either a "misunderstanding," or "sufficient evidence showing the fairness and rationality of the actions carried out under #PoliceForceOrdinance."
Source: Stand News #Nov09
https://thestandnews.page.link/ZaikSY3mthxbyaVcA
#PoliceBrutality #PressFreedom #Journalist
IPCC Said Nothing Wrong with Hong Kong Police Shooting Journist without Warning during #PolyUSiege
During the Anti-ELAB movement on November 18, 2019, pro-democracy protesters trapped in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) attempted to break through the cordon line; however, the police outflanked them by splitting into 3 routes.
When a journalist from #StandNews was interviewing an arrestee, whose face was covered with blood, a sheriff from the Z4 Police Tactic Unit (#PTU) suddenly shot a #PepperBalls to the journalist's feet without warning.
Two years later, the Complaints Against Police Office (#CAPO) ruled that there was "nothing wrong" and the Independent Police Complaints Council (#IPCC) agreed with the classification.
CAPO replied in a letter regarding the case, claiming that police did not have a choice but to shoot the pepper balls and apply a minimum level of violence to disperse the crowd. The letter said that the aim was to "protect the police and the arrestees" and the reason was that "someone was non-stop chasing after the police" and "the police has asked people on site to leave, but they ignored".
There is a footnote in the letter, claiming that there is either a "misunderstanding," or "sufficient evidence showing the fairness and rationality of the actions carried out under #PoliceForceOrdinance."
Source: Stand News #Nov09
https://thestandnews.page.link/ZaikSY3mthxbyaVcA
#PoliceBrutality #PressFreedom #Journalist
#PTSD #Exile
2 Years Since #PolyUSiege: Pro-Democracy Protester who Fled Hong Kong Missed Relative's Funeral, Fears Retribution from #Regime
#PolyU #PoylUSiege #Trauma #HKPoliceState
Source: In-Media HK; #Nov20
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2 Years Since #PolyUSiege: Pro-Democracy Protester who Fled Hong Kong Missed Relative's Funeral, Fears Retribution from #Regime
#PolyU #PoylUSiege #Trauma #HKPoliceState
Source: In-Media HK; #Nov20
Read more
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#PTSD #Exile
2 Years Since #PolyUSiege: Pro-Democracy Protester who Fled Hong Kong Missed Relative's Funeral, Fears Retribution from #Regime
When "A" (pseudonym) heard that a close relative had passed away earlier this year, she immediately made plans to fly back to Hong Kong for the funeral. She quickly picked an airline and a date for the flight; but when it came to selecting her seat, a sense of dread and anxiety suddenly struck her: "I'm really scared of being arrested."
In the end, she did not take the flight.
"A" was working overseas when the the 2019 #ANTIELAB movement broke out. She was not a frequent participant, and had only taken up back-end support roles when she visited her family in Hong Kong.
In November 2019, she went to Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) to support the pro-democracy protesters inside, and was trapped when police laid siege to the campus.
She attempted to escape on two occasions without success; in the end, police took her information, and she was taken away by ambulance.
Afterwards, she returned overseas to work. She had thought that she wasn't affected much by what she experienced.
She never imagined that her fears of retribution would only worsen, rather than fade away over time. "When the time came that I needed to return to Hong Kong, I found out that I was too afraid to do so."
"If a family funeral wasn't enough of a reason to come back, then what else is there in Hong Kong worth coming back for?" "A" had never considered emigration; but now, she knows she could not return to her hometown in the foreseeable future.
She considers herself half an exile, and she could only acquiesce with her predicament: "You can't take back what has happened."
In November 2019, pro-democracy protesters declared a city-wide strike in Hong Kong. Roadblocks were set up across the city, and protesters occupied the PolyU campus in order to blockade the nearby Cross-Harbour Tunnel in Hung Hom.
Police surrounded the camlus from November 17, 2019 on, trapping protesters and citizens alike, and blocking multiple escape attempts by protesters.
Large crowds of civilians answered calls online to "break the siege", advancing towards the university from nearby districts. Police made mass arrests in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hung Hom, and Jordan; over 200 citizens were arrested on rioting charges.
Though many were released without being charged after the maximum 48-hour detention period, some of them are arrested again from their homes by police two years after in 2021.
#PolyU #PoylUSiege #Trauma #HKPoliceState
Source: In-Media HK; #Nov20
Full article: https://bit.ly/3DzVEqO
2 Years Since #PolyUSiege: Pro-Democracy Protester who Fled Hong Kong Missed Relative's Funeral, Fears Retribution from #Regime
When "A" (pseudonym) heard that a close relative had passed away earlier this year, she immediately made plans to fly back to Hong Kong for the funeral. She quickly picked an airline and a date for the flight; but when it came to selecting her seat, a sense of dread and anxiety suddenly struck her: "I'm really scared of being arrested."
In the end, she did not take the flight.
"A" was working overseas when the the 2019 #ANTIELAB movement broke out. She was not a frequent participant, and had only taken up back-end support roles when she visited her family in Hong Kong.
In November 2019, she went to Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) to support the pro-democracy protesters inside, and was trapped when police laid siege to the campus.
She attempted to escape on two occasions without success; in the end, police took her information, and she was taken away by ambulance.
Afterwards, she returned overseas to work. She had thought that she wasn't affected much by what she experienced.
She never imagined that her fears of retribution would only worsen, rather than fade away over time. "When the time came that I needed to return to Hong Kong, I found out that I was too afraid to do so."
"If a family funeral wasn't enough of a reason to come back, then what else is there in Hong Kong worth coming back for?" "A" had never considered emigration; but now, she knows she could not return to her hometown in the foreseeable future.
She considers herself half an exile, and she could only acquiesce with her predicament: "You can't take back what has happened."
In November 2019, pro-democracy protesters declared a city-wide strike in Hong Kong. Roadblocks were set up across the city, and protesters occupied the PolyU campus in order to blockade the nearby Cross-Harbour Tunnel in Hung Hom.
Police surrounded the camlus from November 17, 2019 on, trapping protesters and citizens alike, and blocking multiple escape attempts by protesters.
Large crowds of civilians answered calls online to "break the siege", advancing towards the university from nearby districts. Police made mass arrests in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hung Hom, and Jordan; over 200 citizens were arrested on rioting charges.
Though many were released without being charged after the maximum 48-hour detention period, some of them are arrested again from their homes by police two years after in 2021.
#PolyU #PoylUSiege #Trauma #HKPoliceState
Source: In-Media HK; #Nov20
Full article: https://bit.ly/3DzVEqO
獨立媒體
【圍城．兩年】入理大後離港 至親去世不敢奔喪：我好驚畀人拉 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
（獨媒報導）今年年中，在外地讀書的 A 子（化名）得悉至親離世，立即安排買機票回港奔喪。選好航空公司、來回日期和艙位後，到了選座位一刻，她突然很焦慮、很驚恐：「我好驚畀人拉。」 最終，她沒有回來。 在運動中參與不算多、只是擔任後勤的 A 子，前年 11 月進入了理大，圍封後曾兩次突圍不果，最後被警方登記了資料，坐上救護車離開。事後，她去了外地讀書暫
2 Years After PolyUsiege, 19-year-old HongKongers in Exile: "I Earnestly Want to Return to Hong Kong"
On November 17, 2019, a fierce police-civilian collision broke out at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU). The campus were surrounded by armed police. It is the most tragic fight in the #AntiELAB movement in 2019, carving an indelible wound in countless Hongkongers' hearts.
Two years have passed, a large number of pro-democracy #protesters were subjected to reprisal one after another. As a result, some of them were #exiled #overseas without a returning date, including the 19-year-old Ivan
After escaping from the #PolyUSiege, Ivan, like many young protesters, has been facing the "guilt of survivors" and the unknown future.
"I have been thinking for a long time and finally decided to speak out as I would like to overcomd the fear with everyone," Ivan said.
After s year of exile in the #UK, Ivan chooses to "come out of the closet politically", which is different from when he first arrived.
In the past, he participated in the UK rallies anoymously by donning black. Today, he would not cover his face, rather, he would speak in front of a camera in order to let the world hear their voice.
Ivan said, "I would like to tell the world what we are thinking and what we are doing in a new perspective, as well as the reasons behind, including Why I need to taje it to the street, instead of being a "#HongKongPig" [the one who does not care about politics]?"
So "Hong Kong Pig" went on the street.
Before the movement, Ivan was a "Hong Kong pig", who did not care about the happenings in societyn. But then he chose to protest on the street, entering PolyU campus during the siege, even when he was still a secondary school student.
Ten hours later, he tried to escape from the campus but was arrested.
Although he refused to enter into further bail and was released unconditionally, due to the further reprisal by the Hong Kong Police Force, Ivan had been living in fear before leaving HK.
He then left for the UK with his HKSAR Passport and a single flight ticket on November 5, 2020, going on an exile on his own. At the time of leaving, his parents were also kept in the dark.
He avoids mentioning his family and denies recalling the experiences in the protests, but emphasising "not to get the light spot".
Struggling at the edge of the political #asylum after the exile
Not long after Ivan's departure, the police went to his home to arrest him, accusing him of "perverting the course of public justice".
Just a line to the imprisonment, he becomes a #fugitive at the age of19, struggling to survive alone in a new country.
Source: RFA #Nov17
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/hk-polyu-11172021060537.html
Continue Part 2
On November 17, 2019, a fierce police-civilian collision broke out at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU). The campus were surrounded by armed police. It is the most tragic fight in the #AntiELAB movement in 2019, carving an indelible wound in countless Hongkongers' hearts.
Two years have passed, a large number of pro-democracy #protesters were subjected to reprisal one after another. As a result, some of them were #exiled #overseas without a returning date, including the 19-year-old Ivan
After escaping from the #PolyUSiege, Ivan, like many young protesters, has been facing the "guilt of survivors" and the unknown future.
"I have been thinking for a long time and finally decided to speak out as I would like to overcomd the fear with everyone," Ivan said.
After s year of exile in the #UK, Ivan chooses to "come out of the closet politically", which is different from when he first arrived.
In the past, he participated in the UK rallies anoymously by donning black. Today, he would not cover his face, rather, he would speak in front of a camera in order to let the world hear their voice.
Ivan said, "I would like to tell the world what we are thinking and what we are doing in a new perspective, as well as the reasons behind, including Why I need to taje it to the street, instead of being a "#HongKongPig" [the one who does not care about politics]?"
So "Hong Kong Pig" went on the street.
Before the movement, Ivan was a "Hong Kong pig", who did not care about the happenings in societyn. But then he chose to protest on the street, entering PolyU campus during the siege, even when he was still a secondary school student.
Ten hours later, he tried to escape from the campus but was arrested.
Although he refused to enter into further bail and was released unconditionally, due to the further reprisal by the Hong Kong Police Force, Ivan had been living in fear before leaving HK.
He then left for the UK with his HKSAR Passport and a single flight ticket on November 5, 2020, going on an exile on his own. At the time of leaving, his parents were also kept in the dark.
He avoids mentioning his family and denies recalling the experiences in the protests, but emphasising "not to get the light spot".
Struggling at the edge of the political #asylum after the exile
Not long after Ivan's departure, the police went to his home to arrest him, accusing him of "perverting the course of public justice".
Just a line to the imprisonment, he becomes a #fugitive at the age of19, struggling to survive alone in a new country.
Source: RFA #Nov17
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/hk-polyu-11172021060537.html
Continue Part 2
Radio Free Asia
【離散港人】理大圍城兩年後 19歲流亡者：我真係好想返香港
2019年11月17日，香港理工大學爆發激烈衝突，大批示威者被「秋後算帳」，部分從此流亡海外，當中包括19歲的Ivan。然而逃離危城後，他們面對的卻是「倖存者的愧疚」及茫然未知的前路。
#Court
Facing 38 to 40 months in jail, Pro-democracy citizen: I am "honored to be born a Hongkonger"
On January 15, 2022, the District Court in Hong Kong sentenced seven pro-democracy citizens to up to three years and four months in jail. In the same case, two citizens who are under 20 years old are sent to an education center.
All of them were arrested on the street of Kowloon on November 18, 2019, and were convicted of "rioting" near the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) in November 2019. During the police siege of the university campus, thousands of pro-democracy Hongkongers tried to help the entrapped protesters, students, and civilians to escape.
During the trial, the defence counsel recited a letter written by one of the defendants, 24-year-old Tang Kam-Lok. In his letter, Tang cited the French-Algerian author and 1958 Nobel Prize laureate Albert Camus:
"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."
Tam expressed his belonging to Hong Kong and realised how special Hong Kong was during his studies in the UK. Tam said he is "honored to be born a Hongkonger" and hopes to return "like a phoenix".
After the sentence, families and friends shout in the direction of the defendents, "hang on!" "love you!"
Source: InMediaHK.Net #Jan15
https://bit.ly/3qqOrFA
#Conscience #NeverForget #Phoenix #AlbertCamus #Hongkonger #PolyUSiege
Facing 38 to 40 months in jail, Pro-democracy citizen: I am "honored to be born a Hongkonger"
On January 15, 2022, the District Court in Hong Kong sentenced seven pro-democracy citizens to up to three years and four months in jail. In the same case, two citizens who are under 20 years old are sent to an education center.
All of them were arrested on the street of Kowloon on November 18, 2019, and were convicted of "rioting" near the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) in November 2019. During the police siege of the university campus, thousands of pro-democracy Hongkongers tried to help the entrapped protesters, students, and civilians to escape.
During the trial, the defence counsel recited a letter written by one of the defendants, 24-year-old Tang Kam-Lok. In his letter, Tang cited the French-Algerian author and 1958 Nobel Prize laureate Albert Camus:
"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."
Tam expressed his belonging to Hong Kong and realised how special Hong Kong was during his studies in the UK. Tam said he is "honored to be born a Hongkonger" and hopes to return "like a phoenix".
After the sentence, families and friends shout in the direction of the defendents, "hang on!" "love you!"
Source: InMediaHK.Net #Jan15
https://bit.ly/3qqOrFA
#Conscience #NeverForget #Phoenix #AlbertCamus #Hongkonger #PolyUSiege
獨立媒體
【理大圍城】7男女囚38至40個月 2青年入教導所 被告：願以浴火重生的姿態見面 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
【獨媒報導】前年11月18日「理大圍城」，大批示威者響應號召前往理大附近一帶，9人在警方驅散期間於現場遭拘捕，早前全被裁定暴動罪成，其中兩人另被裁定管有攻擊性武器成立，還柙至今日（15日）於區域法院判刑。法官林偉權判兩名現年20歲的青年入教導所，其餘7名男女則分別判監禁3年2個月至3年4個月。散庭後，親友紛紛向被告大叫：「撐住呀！」、「愛你