National Security Law: Testimonies of Hong Kong People in shock

A woman reacts to the tear gas launched by the pocie against the demonstrators mobilized against the new national security law, in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020. DALE DE LA REY / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

While thousands of Honkongais defied the ban on demonstrations on Wednesday July 1, the police made the first hundreds of arrests, including 10 on the charges of the new national security law. A law that marks the end of judicial autonomy for the former British colony. Two days after its promulgation by Beijing, many Hong Kongers are still in shock.

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With our correspondent in Beijing, Stéphane Lagarde

They are bottles in the sea. Anger, sadness, fear also revolve on the messages of pro-democracy activists, in the aftermath of the arrests on Wednesday July 1 . "  I am angry. I'm sad today. I don't know how we are going to continue to defend our freedoms,  ”laments a student who agreed to anonymously entrust to RFI what is on her heart via an encrypted application.

The crimes considered the most serious under the new national security law are punishable by life imprisonment . Concerns also of some of the Hong Kong journalists, some of whom were still on Wednesday, with their posphorescent yellow vests, on the front line of the clashes between demonstrators and police.

Leaving the profession when censoring

One colleague also testified under the seal of anonymity: “  Many have changed their use of social media. In my address book, for example, several of my contacts have abandoned WhatsApp for Signal and other more secure messaging. Some even put their money in offshore accounts knowing that under national security law your property can be confiscated.  "

Faced with pressure, some journalists would think of leaving the profession, or of censoring themselves. Which would not displease the authorities. According to them, a petition in favor of the law collected 1.9 million signatures.

► To listen: Hong Kong: a militant pro-democracy testifies, "we will not resign ourselves, despite everything"

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  • Hong Kong
  • China
  • Human rights

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