Award Banner
Award Banner

A year on, Hong Kong democracy protesters torn between hope and fear

A year on, Hong Kong democracy protesters torn between hope and fear
Pro-democracy demonstrators stage a rally for the first anniversary of a mass rally against the now-withdrawn extradition bill, at a shopping mall in Hong Kong, China, on June 9, 2020.
PHOTO: Reuters

Medical sector worker Tana has attended peaceful lunchtime rallies in Hong Kong regularly for months along with thousands of others protesting Beijing's influence and calling for greater democracy in the global financial hub.

Now, a year on from a mass rally that kicked off a large scale and often violent anti-government movement, 37-year-old Tana and her husband fear not enough has changed.

The protests succeeded in forcing a backdown by the Hong Kong government on proposed legislation that would have allowed extradition to mainland China.

But a year later, authorities in Beijing are drafting national security laws that activists fear would further curb freedoms.

For Tana and her family, including a son born just before the protests began, pragmatism is beginning to trump idealism.

"I am most worried about my child," Tana told Reuters, requesting her surname be withheld for security reasons.

The family has already shifted their savings abroad, she said, and "emigration might be an option."

Among supporters of the protest movement, feelings range from slim hope to acute fear of oppression.

After a relative respite during the coronavirus outbreak, protesters are again taking to the streets against the proposed security laws. Officials have said the laws would target a small number of "troublemakers" with provisions against secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference.

Ng, a retired 63-year-old woman is among those looking back at the past year with pride and pledges to keep demonstrating.

"A single spark can start a huge blaze," she said, also requesting she be identified by one name only.

Read Also
Police fire pepper spray at Hong Kong protesters as they hold Tiananmen vigil
asia
Police fire pepper spray at Hong Kong protesters as they hold Tiananmen vigil

"The more the government suppresses us, the more resisting we become."

David, 22, who works in insurance and declined to give his surname, said a mix of violent and peaceful tactics was needed for international attention.

David said he "sometimes felt overwhelmed with fear" when he helped at rallies by mixing petrol bombs and disabling tear gas canisters, but he felt compelled to continue.

Demonstrations have often turned violent, with protesters blocking roads, vandalizing shops perceived to have pro-Beijing links and throwing bricks and molotovs at the police, who have responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Isaiah Choy, who studies in Britain but came back last year to take part in peaceful protests, said violent tactics should be abandoned. The 21-year-old said he is frustrated with Hong Kong being treated as a "pawn" in US- China conflicts.

Washington, which has traded barbs with Beijing over trade, the coronavirus pandemic and other issues, says China has quashed the high degree of autonomy that Hong Kong was promised for at least 50 years when it returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997. Beijing has dismissed the claim and urged Washington not to meddle.

Mutual destruction

The protests have strong support among Hong Kong's 7.5 million people, according to opinion polls, with about one third of the population opposed.

Read Also
china
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says city cannot tolerate any more 'chaos'

Keung, 50, said he supported national security laws and hoped the pro-democracy movement "will end soon because evil can never prevail over good."

"It is normal for the government to set up laws to tighten its grip when people are violating the previous ones," Keung, who also gave one name only, told Reuters.

Others vow to continue to protest for as long as it takes.

Sixty-four-year-old retiree Fu has embraced the often chanted slogan "if we burn, you burn with us," referring to the belief that as a magnet for global capital, Hong Kong is the goose that lays the golden eggs for the mainland economy.

Fu said he has lost many childhood friends because of his position, but he has no regrets: "I am a die hard fan of mutual destruction and Hong Kong independence."

homepage

trending

trending
    5 taken to hospital after fire breaks out at Whampoa Heights; more than 40 people evacuated
    Gossip mill: Henry Lau welcomed by fans at Changi Airport, Cha Eun-woo and Rowoon to enlist in July
    DBS staff, police stop 2 victims from losing $820k to government official impersonation scams
    Made in Singapore: First locally-made Kia, the EV5, officially launched
    Singapore ranked 2nd-most expensive city for an overseas education; only Asian city in top 20
    'Be humble in victory': PM Wong sends traditional 'Rules of Prudence' letter to PAP MPs after GE
    Man charged for stealing KrisFlyer miles and using them for purchases
    I visit Swensen's Unlimited's new concept, and now I'm contemplating holding my wedding here
    Zheng Geping gets surprise birthday celebration on drama set
    Poly grad hopes to solve food delivery spillage problem with innovative GRIPBox
    Jiro Wang at Merlion Park and Mandai Rainforest Resort after Lady Gaga's Singapore concert
    Francis Ng's son claps back at negativity about his appearance: 'Don't waste your words'

Singapore

Singapore
    • 'We are just the middlemen': How property agents grapple with landlords' discriminatory preferences
    • 'I'm gaming the system': Singaporean moves to Thailand, flies back weekly for work to save costs
    • Resale flat prices may begin moderating from 2026 as new units reach MOP: Chee Hong Tat
    • 'We apologise for the operational lapse': NUS responds to backlash over disposal of Yale-NUS books
    • Flashbacks, panic attacks: Ten years on, cyberbullying survivor shares his trauma
    • MHA to conduct social experiments in June to gauge public vigilance, response to terror threats
    • Audrey Fang case: Spanish judge blocks suspect’s deportation to Singapore over death penalty concerns
    • First tranche of GE2025 candidate expenses published, with highest spending being over $100,000
    • 'It feels like a gut punch': Yale-NUS students asked to destroy DVDs prior to campus closure
    • 10 months' jail for man who stole cash, credit card onboard Scoot flight

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • Netflix responds to allegations of When Life Gives You Tangerines' extras being subjected to starvation and mistreatment
    • Grab exclusive Dylan Wang merchandise with Chagee's upcoming Longjing Milk Tea series
    • CCTV footage of man stealing standee of Aespa's Karina in Malaysia tickles netizens
    • Ayumi Hamasaki, CL, Show Lo: Singapore concert calendar for 2025
    • Jackie Chan wanted to 'give up' his acting dreams before seeing Karate Kid and Rocky
    • Sean 'Diddy' Combs allegedly threatened to leak sex tapes of his ex
    • Ecstasy and bribery accusations in Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial bolster racketeering charge
    • Christopher McQuarrie has plot for Top Gun 3 'already in the bag'
    • That Visa ad is real, Blackpink's really coming to Singapore
    • Billie Eilish takes top prize at American Music Awards

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Jurassic World, inflatable playgrounds and more: Family-friendly events and activities this June holiday
    • Kopitiam offering 60-cent hot kopi-o and teh-o from June to mark SG60
    • Porridge, pancakes and more: Popeyes enters Singapore's fast-food breakfast game
    • I visit GastroBeats again, here's whether it's still worth the hype
    • Special offers and wildlife experiences at Mandai attractions in celebration of SG60
    • Skyworth K review: A car that's as effective as a household appliance
    • Voraciously hungry? Check out these buffets to get the best bang for your buck
    • Singaporean chef Akmal Anuar's Malay restaurant in Dubai earns spot on Michelin Guide
    • Singapore Oceanarium, formerly S.E.A. Aquarium, to open on July 23 with expanded experiences and research centre
    • Father's Day: What to get for the dad who says he wants nothing

Digicult

Digicult
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • Under siege? Helldivers 2's latest city to be invaded by aliens could be spoof of Singapore
    • Honor 400 Series launches in Singapore with first free in-device AI image-to-video tool
    • Home Team humanoid robots to be deployed by mid-2027, $100m to be invested: Josephine Teo
    • Ado concert review: Singer without a face ignites fans while in cage with only silhouette visible
    • EU and US authorities take down malware network
    • Google Pixel 9a: The best AI-centric phone under $800 in 2025?
    • Western intelligence agencies warn spyware threat targeting Taiwan, Tibetan rights advocates

Money

Money
    • Wall Street equity indexes close higher after US-China tariff truce
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • Can you still own multiple properties in Singapore? Here's what you need to know in 2025
    • Selling your home for the first time? Here's a step-by-step timeline to follow in Singapore
    • Why some central 2-bedroom homeowners in Singapore are stuck
    • How the interest rate cycle works - and what it means for your home loan
    • Tampines, Sengkang and more towns set new 2-room all-time-high records - is this part of a broader trend?
    • More people rented in April 2025 despite higher prices, here's what drove it
    • Looking to buy Singapore property in 2025? Here's what's different (and what could catch you off guard)
    • 'Short-term, more conservative view': Local businesses struggle to come to terms with US tariffs

Latest

Latest
  • Israel announces new West Bank settlements despite sanctions threat
  • 'Good days are over': Chinese students despair as US cracks down on visas
  • Daily roundup: Skyworth K review, a car that's as effective as a household appliance — and other top stories today
  • Philippines says China has no right to object or interfere with its 'lawful' activities in the South China Sea
  • South Korean navy says patrol aircraft carrying four people crashed
  • Hanoi bans The Economist's printed issue with Vietnam's top leader on cover, say distributor sources
  • South Koreans turn out in record numbers for early voting in presidential election
  • UK prosecutors authorise 21 criminal charges against Andrew and Tristan Tate
  • Manitoba urges thousands to evacuate as Canada wildfires spread

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Pedestrian, 84, dies in accident involving minibus in Choa Chu Kang
  • NDP 2025 marks SG60 with expanded celebrations from Padang to Marina Bay
  • Obesity rates are rising in Singapore, but is overeating the only cause?
  • Trump administration blocks Harvard from enrolling foreign students, threatens broader crackdown 
  • No joke: Bangkok condo resident releases snakes in corridor to protest neighbour's noisy dog
  • 'Only one chance at life': Chinese student, 18, misses exam to save classmate suffering heart attack
  • Baby suspected to have been eaten by monitor lizard in Thailand, only head found
  • 'Dog will return soon': GE2025 independent candidate Jeremy Tan wants to contest again
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.