Hong Kong protests one year continue to repel the "national security legislation" but also feel helpless

Hong Kong protests one year continue to rebound against "national security legislation" but helplessness also June 7 19:04

In Hong Kong, nine days have passed since the start of a series of large-scale protests, which is a year. While democratic groups and others continue to repel the “national security legislation” against the anti-government movement in Hong Kong, which China has decided to introduce, a sense of helplessness is spreading among the citizens.

In Hong Kong, a march was held on June 9th last year with the announcement of the organizer's announcement that 1.03 million citizens participated in an attempt to oppose the bylaws that would allow the suspect's status to be passed to mainland China.

After the withdrawal of the ordinance, public opposition to the Hong Kong government and police did not subside, protest continued, and the brunt of the problem was directed to the Chinese government.

Last month, China decided to introduce a "national security legislation" to crack down on anti-governmental movements in Hong Kong. Organizations and legislators continue to bounce.

However, many public protests are in the hundreds of people in commercial facilities, etc., and are not linked to large-scale activities like before. In the background, as a measure to prevent the infection of the new coronavirus, the police do not allow many gatherings and strengthen the crackdown.

Also, the view that it is difficult for the Hong Kong government and parliament to participate in the decision of this "national security legislation", and it is difficult to overturn the decision by protest activities, there is a feeling of helplessness among the citizens. ..

On the other hand, there is a growing demand for China to intensify the pressure on the international community to withdraw the introduction of the "national security legislation," and democratic groups have repeatedly called for support.

"Demo is useless"

Citizens' attitudes towards protests are changing.

Of these, a 23-year-old man, who said he was strongly opposed to the "national security legislation", said, "It may be necessary to change the method of protest. It may be useful even if the demonstration is repeated. I don't think I can beat it."

A 20-year-old college man, who has been involved in protests, said, "The police arrested anyone using more than nine people. People are not able to actively participate in the activity like before.”

On the other hand, a 20-year-old vocational school man said, "The government has not responded to our request and should continue to seek through protests. I do not care about my own safety." Some people are motivated to show their willingness to protest through protests.

"Hong Kong is a dead end"

More and more young people in Hong Kong are beginning to feel the limits of continuing protests.

In Hong Kong, the number of people arrested in connection with protests since June last year reached 8,300 people, according to police announcement, of which more than 1,600 people were charged with rioting and participating in illegal gatherings. It was. Many of these people have been released on bail, but have declined to participate in protests, fearing they could affect future trials.

Among them, Taku Kuni (26), who runs an advertising production company, was arrested in November last year when he participated in a large-scale demonstration where police and young people clashed, and was charged with rioting in the middle of last month. It was. The trial has already begun, and you are obliged to visit the police station once a week during the trial to report your whereabouts. He says the maximum punishment for rioting is 10 years in prison, and he is worried that he cannot predict when the trial will end.

Yi-san said, “My life has fallen off the rail since I was prosecuted. My future work and life have changed. No matter how much I fight, it has no effect. I don't know what to do. Hong Kong has been pushed to a dead end, and if national security legislation is introduced, it may be arrested for just saying the slogan, "Regain Hong Kong." Still, some fear You may continue to sue, but many will even be frightened of speaking out.”

Rising overseas migration

In Hong Kong, after China announced the introduction of "national security legislation," more and more people are worried about the future and are considering moving from Hong Kong to Taiwan and Europe.

It is said that the number of inquiries per day has reached about 30 times the number of inquiries per day since the announcement of China, which was inundated immediately after the announcement of China. The company has increased the number of briefing sessions that were once or twice a week from now on to 12 times a week, but each time, the number of attendees at the venue was so high that more than 200 people attended each day. Is participating. Especially, many people want to move to Taiwan, which is culturally and geographically close to Hong Kong.

A man who participated in a briefing on emigration to Taiwan said, "If the national security legislation is introduced, the free environment of Hong Kong, which has been protected so far, will deteriorate, so I would like to live somewhere free. I want to leave Hong Kong soon," he said.

Another woman said, "I thought the national security legislation was not safe for us and needed preparation. The Hong Kong government does not protect us."

Mr. Hiroshi Liang, a representative of a company that mediates migration, said, "We had about 10 contracts in a month, but this month we have 80 contracts in Taiwan alone. Many people are retired, but young people We are seeing an increasing number of inquiries from all of us.” We can say that regardless of age, migration abroad is an option for citizens of Hong Kong to avoid the effects of national security legislation.

Britain and Taiwan are migrating

Britain, which was a colonial power until Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997, and Taiwan, which supports Hong Kong citizens seeking democratization, have shown a willingness to support those who wish to emigrate.

Among them, Prime Minister Johnson of the United Kingdom contributed to Hong Kong newspapers etc., and if China proceeded with the introduction of national security legislation, he would work on the residence permit issued by the United Kingdom to the citizens of Hong Kong before it was returned. They want to change the conditions so that they can do so and open the way for citizenship in the future.

Currently, about 350,000 people have this permit, and they are considering allowing another 2.5 million to apply for it.

In addition, the Taiwanese authorities are also in the direction of President Cai Ying-wen and are considering strengthening support for people who wish to move to Taiwan, such as obtaining residence qualifications and accommodation arrangements. I will do it.

According to the Taiwanese authorities, the number of people who traveled from Hong Kong to Taiwan for the reason of studying abroad or working was over 5,800 last year, more than 40% more than the previous year. Also, the number of people who decided to settle in after moving from Hong Kong to Taiwan was 1474 last year, more than 30% more than the previous year, and Taiwanese authorities say that the number of people migrating will further increase. I'm expecting.