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[Portrait] Hong Kong: Mike, a young anti-Beijing activist

Mike (his name has been changed), like many young people populating the demonstrations in Hong Kong, denounces the influence of Beijing on the politics of this semi-autonomous territory. The bill (currently suspended) that would have allowed people to be sent to Chinese territory to be tried is at the center of the protests. Weary of unsuccessful methods of mobilization, he joined the "frontliners", activists dressed in black who go on the front line to the police to provoke it. On July 28, he was arrested, but says he is innocent of the crime that the justice accuses (participation in a riot). RFI met him on his university campus.

From our special correspondent in Hong Kong,

This 28 of July, Mike, 22 years old and a teenager physique, marks on the application Telegram the place of the next action. It is the liaison office of the central Chinese government in the north of Hong Kong Island. The facade had been vandalized a few days earlier by other activists. But that day, the police apparatus had been reinforced.

" For us, it was like the other days," says the young man. We bought some bottles of water, things like that, and we went there, on the front line of the clashes. But all of a sudden, there was tear gas and I lost sight of my friends. That's where I got arrested . "

Beaten with batons, then taken to the police station, he will spend two days in hospital before being released. With about forty others arrested that day, he incurs 10 years in prison for "participation in a riot". A decision that provoked several demonstrations of support. The Hong Kong government rejects allegations that Beijing directly or indirectly influences the characterization of the July 28 violence. Mike is convinced otherwise.

" Twenty people were arrested for the incidents in Yuen Long where a group of bandits beat protesters," he squeaks. None have been charged. Has justice done its job? Clearly, no. She decided not to charge them. It asks us questions and it makes us think that judges are not impartial . "

Fed to the books of Rousseau and John Mill on political freedoms, Mike was born in 1997, the year Hong Kong was surrendered to the Chinese government by London in exchange for a special temporary status. He will still be an active man when Hong Kong will return completely to the Chinese fold in 2047. A prospect hard to imagine for him.

" Even though I know there's a lot of demand for computer engineers and I can easily find work in Hong Kong," says Mike, " I think I'll never be satisfied if I see the violations of human rights Hong Kong. "

Like many young people in his situation, Mike admits his sympathy for supporters of the separatist cause. Edward Leung, one of the leaders of the movement, serving a six-year sentence for his role in the 2016 violence. Sentenced last year with other activists, he received the most harassment of pro-democracy protesters since the handover of Hong Kong.

For her part, Kim will continue to protest, but only at authorized gatherings. While waiting for his appearance before the judge next September.

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