Tingo | Confessions of a Frontliner — Between Violence and Rationality

Tingo is a Hongkonger in his 30s, who quit his job in April and started his own business. Find out why, despite having earned enough to have more free time whilst being self-employed, he chose to spend his time and energy as a frontliner.

Politics, PersonalWe Are HKers7 December 2019tingo, frontline, front line, frontliner, jack forest, self-employed, businessman, protester, protests, protestComment

Jeremy | Hongkonger who studied and is working in the UK - "If you are forced into a corner and no one listens to you...what else can you do, except protest?"

The crux of the problem is that Hongkongers see no future. They are terrified of what will happen in 2047. We have been protesting since the handover in 1997. We have given the government many chances to implement changes. Yet, time and again, they have failed us. What more can we do? What more should we do?

Family, Personal, Identity, Politics, OverseasWe Are HKers3 December 2019Jeremy, UK, government, protest, hongkonger, corner, don, sl, nora the cat, overseas, LGBTQ+, youngsters, TotoroComment

【SHARED】Wang Hao Yu | Taiwanese journalist reporting in Hong Kong - "They are not a bunch of numbers. Each and every one of them is a person, very much alive."

During the Sunflower Movement* in Taiwan, we didn’t agree with the illegal tactics the student protestors used, until we somewhat understood what civil disobedience is. Since then, we have found their persistence in protesting at all costs really admirable.

Politics, Personal, OverseasWe Are HKers1 December 2019wang hao yu, kc, taiwan, taiwanese, journalist, numbers, alive, protest, protests, protester, sunflower movement, MTR, violence, democracy, overseasComment

Chan Jai | A participant in the movement who never stepped up to the front line - "One might even say I lack the courage to make a difference."

Since I became aware of social movements, I have only been a participant, and have never stepped up to the frontline of the movement, because I am afraid of trouble and easily discouraged. One might even say I lack the courage to make a difference. My newly acquainted ‘schoolmates’ changed me. They are really helpful and truly tireless, and taught me how to be free from fear via action, letting me know that breakthroughs lie only in persistence.

G - "Hongkongers are doing whatever they can, regardless of where and who they are, with the same goal in mind."

Hongkongers are doing whatever they can, regardless of where and who they are, with the same goal in mind. They’ve got it all covered. There’s even a group that collects recyclables at every protest, and another that cleans up the site after protests. It never ceases to amaze me how they can bond together so quickly and efficiently, fuelled by the anger towards injustice and the love for freedom.

Politics, Personal, Identity, OverseasWe Are HKers3 November 2019singapore, G, singaporean, JCo, Lui, perseverance, utopia, role, umbrella movement, overseasComment

Amy - 'People just look at the surface. They only see the chaos, but they don’t ask why there is chaos.'

I realised a lot of people around me are really angry. There’s a guy who sits next to me at work who gets really upset, but that’s all... There’s no point in being angry by yourself. You’re not helping anyone; you’re just making yourself unhappy. When I realised that, I started becoming more active.

Personal, PoliticsWe Are HKers28 October 2019ka yan, amy, tendarken, chaos, surface, protests, protester, time, act, lennon, wallComment

Anne - "In Hong Kong, I can say whatever I want out loud and not be afraid."

A lot of people in mainland China hold the opinion that Hongkongers are spoiled. But I would say that Hongkongers have tasted freedom, and to take that away from us is just ruthless.

Personal, Hobbies, Politics, ArtsWe Are HKers23 October 2019ka yan, nora the cat, art, therapy, say, afraid, free, negative, energy, session, artistComment

"This was precisely the moment where my 'Hongkonger' identity took shape - unyielding yet flexible, like water."

Growing up under the English-medium education in Hong Kong where freedom of speech and independent thinking are celebrated, I have come to realise my generation (post-90s) is very different from my parents’ (60s). We are literally 'two kinds' of people – to me, the sense of belonging becomes a burden.

Personal, Overseas, IdentityWe Are HKers12 October 2019orange peel, sl, 行山之友, identity, water, overseas, values, hongkonger, be waterComment

Forget About Formalities, Speak Your Mind, and Strive For Happiness

At that time, I constantly reminded myself that if I can choose my own personality, I wanted my personality to resemble theirs. If Hong Kong is a place that encourages this form of personalities and attitudes, one day I would want to stay and live in Hong Kong.

PersonalWe Are HKers29 September 2019orange peel, culture, personality, happinessComment

The Chinese taxi driver who dares to speak up

I’ve never thought a driver from mainland China, an ordinary citizen, would have such an in-depth view of what’s happening in society. He was very bold to talk about this, which surprised me. His thoughts and mentality are far more thorough than some Hong Kong people and high-ranking government officials. Or perhaps everyone knows, but they kneel before power and fortune, thus refuse to speak up.

PersonalWe Are HKers22 September 2019mainland, taxi, driver, chinese, orange peelComment