By Assunta Ng
Protestors in Hong Kong (Photo by Jason Liu/NWAW)
I left Hong Kong (HK) in the 1970s, but my family ties are still there. The recent HK students’ protest that started on Sept. 27 has stirred up much conversations and arguments in the former British colony—between husband and wife, among friends, between employers and employees, and among parents and children.
Should the students challenge China and the HK government? Everybody seems to take a side. So I called my friends last weekend and their emotions were so raw that they couldn’t calm down.
The typical argument between a couple would resemble something like this:
“Students should go back to school,” says the wife.
“Students should have a voice,” says the husband.
According to the New York Times, gangsters were attacking the students verbally and physically, including sexually groping female protesters. What incited the gangsters to be involved? Chinese government? HK officials?
One of my friends was disgusted that the HK police didn’t protect the students at all. “The students actually told the other students to set a good example by not fighting back. They even cleaned up the garbage. They told the other students to let cars drive through. Don’t block people going to work.”
Would it be safe to go to HK?
My high school classmate was concerned that some of us might reconsider taking the trip to HK to join our reunion next month.
Hence, she sent out a group e-mail. I was surprised because the protest wouldn’t change my decision a bit. It never occurred to me that it wouldn’t be safe to travel to my other home. (end)