First they came for the Tibetans
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Tibetan
Then they came for the Uighurs
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Uighur
Then they came for the Hong Kongers
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Hong Konger
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Despair. Anger. Anguish. This is what Hong Kongers woke up to on the morning of July 1st. The Chinese government had just passed the National Security Law criminalising anything from terrorism all the way down to speaking ill against the government. Overnight, Hong Kong went from a vibrant and partially free society to a city under totalitarian rule. Everything appears the same, but underneath it all, a harsh new reality has settled in. Hong Kong is dead, murdered by the CCP.
But it will endure and Hong Konger spirit will never be vanquished.
Enacted by the Beijing government, the National Security Law gives the mainland extensive powers to shape the Hong Kong area in its own totalitarian image. Officially, the law criminalises sedition and separatism against the Hong Kong government but it goes further than that. In reality, it changes the very way justice is administered in Hong Kong.
Crimes are vague and open to interpretation. No one knows exactly what is illegal or not. The law can be broken by foreign nationals, meaning anyone who criticises China anywhere could face prosecution. Secret trials can be held without a jury. Judges will be handpicked depending on loyalty to Beijing. There is no bail and people can be detained with impunity and with no time limit on detention. Sentences can range from 10 years to life in prison. More than 400 people have already been arrested since the law has been enacted, the youngest just 15 years old. This law is truly horrifying, and will be remembered as the moment democracy may have died in Hong Kong.
Key figureheads of the pan-democratic movement such as student activist Joshua Wong have disbanded their pan-democratic political groups to keep their fellow party members safe. Claudia Mo, an opposition lawmaker in Hong Kong, said the aim of China’s national security legislation was to “stun Hong Kong into nothingness”. “People will be so petrified, so frightened and intimidated, that they wouldn’t dare say anything or do anything in opposition,” she said.
Several other figureheads of the movement have already left Hong Kong for the safety of themselves and their family. Pro democracy student activist Nathan Law said (from an undisclosed location) that while the national security law aimed to crush the movement, Hong Kong would never surrender.
https://twitter.com/coneymoo/status/1278649637377765378
Once buzzing social media and messaging channels that usually full of alerts for new demonstrations have already gone quiet, with no new protests planned for the coming days. Channels that did remain active were filled with posts despairing at Lennon Walls being torn down, websites censoring potentially illegal posts, and rumours of more arrests.
Lennon walls at ‘Yellow’ businesses which had fervently supported the protesters had become a large part of protester culture, but business owners have already been warned that Lennon walls were now considered illegal.
One protester, who wished to remain anonymous said that Hong Kongers were really scared of what might now happen to them.
“I think people will continue to protest, and if possible I will try too, but I think 1 July also made me realise that this law is going to change how the protests go forward because marching is kind of no longer our main substance,” she said.
Hong Kongers have already been offered asylum in Taiwan, Japan and Germany. The United Kingdom is prepared to offer British passports to many Hong Kongers, while Australia is set to offer asylum to those fleeing oppression. The CCP has naturally denounced these offers of safe haven, and continues to threaten and bully Australia and other countries.
Let me be clear. Hong Kong is dead, but Hong Kongers will continue to fight until our last breath. China is sterilising and exterminating an entire race, while subjugating millions under their totalitarian foot, and needs to be stopped. Otherwise, the free world is no better than Chamberlain giving Czechoslovakia to Hitler on a silver platter. This is Hong Kong darkest hour, and while we may no longer have a place to call home, resistance against the CCP will continue to thrive and grow. To Hong Kongers, while we may despair, we should look to the lyrics of our anthem for hope in this dark time.
We pledge: No more tears on our land
In wrath, doubts dispell’d we make our stand
Arise! Ye who would not be slaves again
For Hong Kong, may Freedom reign
Though deep is the dread that lies ahead
Yet still with our faith on we tread
Let blood rage afield! Our voice grows evermore
For Hong Kong, may Glory reign
Stars may fade as darkness fills the air
Through the mist a solitary trumpet flares
Now, to arms! For Freedom we fight with all might we strike
With valour, wisdom both, we stride
Break now the dawn, liberate our Hong Kong
In common breath: Revolution of our times
May people reign, proud and free, now and evermore
Glory be to thee Hong Kong
If Hong Kong endures in spirit, and our resolve never breaks, and when Hong Kong is finally free, perhaps we will look at this very moment and call this our finest hour…
