Writer: Siena Iwasaki Milbauer
Welcome to “Eyes On,” a series from AAOP that provides compact rundowns of important conflicts or crises in our global community.
As engaged youth, it can be hard to stay informed about all that is worth knowing. We hope this series can provide user-friendly but well-rounded summaries of events, and empower youth readers to knowledgeably take action in our world. Check out all our “Eyes On” installments at http://aaopmn.org/tag/eyes-on/
1. Hong Kong has a unique history that plays a big role in the situation on the ground today. Hong Kong was a part of China for over 2000 years. But in the 1800’s, British colonial forces took control and did not leave until 1997. In a deal that returned Hong Kong to Chinese jurisdiction, Hong Kong was guaranteed the right to maintain its own capitalist economy, and for residents to retain their rights to free speech, assembly, and religious freedom, until the year 2047. This deal was known as the “one country, two systems” bargain and highlighted how culturally and structurally different Hong Kong and mainland China are. The question has to be asked: when Hong Kong was released from British rule, why wasn’t it offered independence as an option?
2. In recent years, the Chinese government has tightened its grip on Hong Kong, placing increasing restrictions on elections and day-to-day life, and most prominently, enacting a controversial national security law in 2020. This law places the Hong Kong court system directly under Chinese government rule, allows for folks on trial to be extradited to a Chinese court, and has been used to clamp down on dissent and protest. Not only does this place the people of Hong Kong in a vulnerable position, it is in direct violation of China’s promise to give Hong Kong semi-autonomy until at least 2047.
3. The Chinese government crackdown has been met with awe-inspiring resistance on the part of the Hong Kong people. In 2014, participants in the “umbrella revolution,” so called because of the umbrellas protesters carried as protection against police pepper spray and tear gas, flooded the streets of Hong Kong. In 2019, literally millions of Hongkongers came out again in resistance to Chinese authoritarianism, this despite the very real risk of retaliation. Following the enactment of the national security law, protests have had to become more covert for fear of extradition to mainland China. But miraculously, in the face of extreme oppression, protests continue. Just this summer, quiet but meaningful commemorations were held in honor of the Tiananmen Square massacre victims, and citizens continue to voice their resistance to arrests and trials of protesters.
1. The Chinese government is currently using the newly enacted national security law to go after protesters and resistance leaders. Many figures, both prominent and lesser known, have been detained and are slowly being tried and often harshly sentenced. Some protesters and many ordinary citizens have also fled Hong Kong, seeking asylum largely in Western nations. Overall, the Chinese government is harnessing the national security law to create a climate of fear in Hong Kong, retaliate against protesters, and even force people to leave their home.
2. Schools are particularly targeted and affected by the new status quo in Hong Kong. Much of the resistance against the Chinese government has been youth and student-led, with college campuses serving as a crucial organizing space. In Hong Kong’s Universities, fear of retaliation has forced administrators, teachers, and students alike to act cautiously and sometimes even self-censure educational content that could be framed as anti-Chinese government. For younger students, the Chinese government’s plans are even more insidious. An overhaul of Hong Kong primary education has begun, with the Chinese government essentially rewriting history through a pro-unification lens and shaping curriculum with the goal of indoctrinating future generations of Hongkongers to be pro-Chinese government.
1. Support asylum seekers: Asylum seekers from Hong Kong are currently protected in the United States by President Biden’s decision to grant them “Deferred Enforced Departure” through at least February 2023. However, more comprehensive protections could be provided through the passage of the bipartisan “Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act.” Support this act and other comparable actions to ensure that the US remains a safe haven for folks forced to leave Hong Kong.
2. Support organizations defending Hong Kong human rights: While getting help to folks on the ground in Hong Kong is increasingly difficult with the tight hold the Chinese government now has, there are international organizations that are actively working globally and locally to defend the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. One such organization you can check out is the Hong Kong Democracy Council.
Sources
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