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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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#Interview #HongkongersVoice
Arrested Pro-democracy Uni Student is Not Pessimistic: People work towards a simple and shared value - the fight for Hongkonger’s Freedom

Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28173

Part 2:

Ah Ling, a MPhil student in Philosophy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail for "illegal assembly" on the evening of the 1-million-peopled June 9 rally in 2019.

Before going to jail, he said:

“When are we going to achieve it? Nobody knows.”

“When are we going to succeed? Nobody knows.”

“Are we going to succeed? Nobody knows it either.”

“But we still have to do it.” Ah Ling uttered this line most sternly.

He made an analogy comparing individuals involved in the pro-democracy movement to the gearwheels of an engine. “A gearwheel doesn’t need a hope to wind, but power. As long as we are gearing towards a desired direction, and when you accept the fact that you might not be able to witness a fruitful result, you will be contented to keep on winding forward. This is not a matter of being optimistic or not.”

Talking about an ideal Hong Kong, Ah Ling suggested a way of reverse thinking on “which core values we have to defend.”

He wanted to say that if citizens in all walks of life in Hong Kong are striving towards the same objective and sharing the same set of values, they will open up many possibilities for the city in the future. Ah Ling stressed that, the critical aspect lies in people’s mentality.

The 2019 anti-ELAB movement has evolved on unprecedented scale. “This is because the movement has drawn together people with different backgrounds and beliefs to work towards a simple and shared value - the fight for Hongkonger’s freedom,” Ah Ling concluded.

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

#ProtestersStory #AhLing #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

Source: InMedia, #Jan22

Read more
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28211
#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
#Interview #HongKongersVoice
In Face Of Suspension, Head of Students Union Has No Regret in Pro-democracy Fight

Source: InMedia #Jan27

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#Interview #HongKongersVoice
In Face Of Suspension, Head of Students Union Has No Regret in Pro-democracy Fight

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (#UST) Students’ Union (#SU) was penalised by the university management due to their role in organising the Memorial Service in remembrance of the death of fellow student #AlexChow, repainting a part of the University Road and refusing to remove material that the University deemed as pro-Hong Kong Independence.

Ka-chun MAK, the President and Kai-ho LO, the Vice-President (Internal) of the Students Union were suspended for a semester, had to complete a 72-hour campus service order and were prohibited from using any campus facility.

Mak told InMedia that he wouldn’t regret about what he had done for HKUST and Hong Kong, and that the he became the President of the SU because he wanted to change the politically apathetic campus, so that students of the University could be ‘proud of HKUST’ outside academic proficiency. He did so also to raise civic consciousness and to take on more responsibility.

During the interview, news came in about the police once again breaking into the campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) and arresting several students.

Mak lamented that one had to weigh the consequences before doing anything then. ‘Will you be looked into under this circumstance?’ He sighed. He thought that everyone had their own standards in their mind, if they could afford the consequences of the actions they took, they should go ahead, prepared to accept the consequences that follow. ‘If you think whatever should be done is worth the legal consequences, then do it.’

Source: InMedia #Jan27
https://bit.ly/3cj5ItB

#StudentsUnion #UniversityStudent #University #MakKaChun
#MassArrest #HongkongersVoice #LegCoElectionPrimaries
#VentusLau believes he has done his best and the next generation will do better

Source: InMedia #Jan30

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#MassArrest #HongkongersVoice #LegCoElectionPrimaries
#VentusLau believes he has done his best and the next generation will do better

Ventus Lau has been arrested four times since 2019. Seven years ago, he thought he could change Hong Kong if he took part in politics. However, he felt his political life was over after he was disqualified from Legislation Council elections.

In 2019, the anti-ELAB (Extradition Law Amendment Bill) movement led to his political life's resurgence.

In this movement, as an organizer of rallies and marches, he submitted applications for Letters of No Objection. In the end, he was arrested thrice and was accused of four different crimes. The maximum term of imprisonment is ten years in jail for the crime of rioting.

After participating in the pro-democracy primary election, Ventus Lau was quiet for a while and planned to enjoy his last period of freedom until he would be sent to prison. However, he was unexpectedly arrested again because of participating in the primary election and felt like fodder this time. "53 people, including me, have done all we could. What else I can do…," he said.

He didn't complain and feel regret, but he felt sorry that he didn't do his best. "if we use Baggio's rhetoric, we are building a path [for the future]. If the authority wants to arrest me and I need to sacrifice, it's fine. But I hope someone behind can pick it up this tough job, so that my sacrifice will have meaning," he said.

"I have strong feeling that the younger generation will do much better than me," he said.

Source: Inmedia HK #Jan30
https://bit.ly/3iZ17Ow

#NextGeneration #Future
#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

Source: InMedia #May18

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29797
#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."

Continue Reading Part 2:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29805

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 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29797

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

Read Part 2
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29805
#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://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29797

Continue with Part 2:

"...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."

Read Part 3 here:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29816

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"

Previously, Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29797

Part 2:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29805

Source: InMedia #May18

Continue Reading Part 3:
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29816
#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://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29797

Part 2:
https://t.me/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