[2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines
From 2019-2020, Hong Kong was overtaken by citywide protests, also known as the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement. Triggered by the introduction of a Fugitive Offenders amendment bill on extradition by the Hong Kong government, a deeper fear of the diminishing Hong Kong identity and tensions between Hong Kong and Mainland China ran strong.
On June 30, 2020, a National Security Law was unilaterally introduced to put an end to the protests. Composed of 99 articles, it redefines acts of subversion, secession, terrorism, and foreign interference with punishment up to life imprisonment.
Paired with the rise of COVID-19, the streets have been quiet ever since.
Wan Chai, Hong Kong (July 1, 2020) - A protestor defiantly waves the flag 'Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times' on the first day of the passing of the National Security Law. Following the NSL, these types of slogans and materials can now be interpreted as acts of subversion, secession, and terrorism - which can result in life imprisonment.
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (October 20, 2019) - A black-clad protestor uses a bright umbrella as a shield against tear gas and surveillance as they pass by a police station.
Polytechnic University, Hong Kong (November 17, 2019) - Protestors barricade themselves inside of a university, setting up make-shift first aid stations, food stalls, and equipment centres. This would become known as "the Siege of PolyU," and the peak of tensions between protestors and police. Over the course of the next two weeks, an estimate of 1 300 people would be arrested in connection with the siege.
A protestor dressed in a yellow raincoat with black, yellow, and white balloons. Two years ago, a man named Marco Leung Ling-kit fell to his death from scaffolding of a nearby building during social unrest in Hong Kong. Dozens of people laid white flowers, candles, and ribbons in mourning.
A member of the police media liaison pushes back journalists as tear gas is fired in the background. On the first day of the passing of the National Security Law, protests erupted across Hong Kong. In 2020, the ranking of press freedom in Hong Kong dropped to the 80th place, with increasing pressure and constrictions on media.
A young police officer looks into a crowd of journalists, with his gas mask askew on his face. Since the eruption of protests in Hong Kong from 2019-2020, the reputation of Hong Kong police have dropped to its lowest point, receiving the least popularity of all disciplinary forces.
On the first day of the National Security Law, a young police officer mocks a young teenage girl on the streets of Hong Kong, as an elderly protestor looks on. Her unwavering stare is one of confrontation and definance, refusing to back down from the police officer. Since the eruption of protests in Hong Kong from 2019-2020, the reputation of Hong Kong police have dropped to its lowest point, receiving the least popularity of all disciplinary forces.
The top of the Pillar of Shame as evening approaches. Standing at eight-meters tall, The Pillar of Shame statue commemorates student protesters who lost their lives during the Tiananmen Square massacre. Created by Danish artist Jens Galschiot, the statue has been a presence at the University of Hong Kong since the first June 4th vigil in 1997.
June 23, 2021 (Tseung Kwan O) - Apple Daily suddenly closed down after 26 years of operation, following the freezing of its assets and the arrests of five executives under the national security law.
High-profile activists Nathan Law and former-Legislative Council member Eddie Chu sit casually during a candelit vigil to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre. Banned for the first time in 30 years, there are speculations that the vigil has already taken place for the last time. Up until now, Hong Kong was the only territory in China that allowed the commemoration to take place. In the months to follow, Law would go into exile and Chu would be arrested on multiple occasions for charges under the National Security Law, a piece of legislation imposed by Beijing that would ban all forms of dissent and would be punishable by life in prison.
Howard X, a Kim Jung Un impersonator, holds a plstic blow-up missile with a photo of Xi Jinping. On the first day of the passing of the National Security Law, thousands came out to protest in defiance. Composed of 66 articles that redefine acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign collusion, acts such as this can be punishable up to life imprisonment.
June 4, 2021 (Victoria Park) - For the second time since 1989, a Tiananmen Square vigil was banned in Hong Kong, citing concerns of public health safety. Despite Victoria Park (the typical meeting location of the vigil) being closed with 3,000 police officers deployed around the area, Hong Kong people still showed up near the park, with the flashlights on their phones turned on. By the end of the night, at least six people would be arrested and twelve people fined.
Three police officers huddle together in a blocked off and empty Victoria Park, Hong Kong on June 4, 2021. For the second time since 1989, a Tiananmen Square vigil was banned in Hong Kong, citing concerns of public health safety. Despite Victoria Park (the typical meeting location of the vigil) being closed with 3,000 police officers deployed around the area, Hong Kong people still showed up near the park, with the flashlights on their phones turned on. By the end of the night, at least six people would be arrested and twelve people fined.
Candles arranged in the number of "6" and "4" can be seen on the ground during a candelit vigil to commemorate the July 4th Tiananmen Square massacre. Banned for the first time in 30 years, there are speculations that the vigil has already taken place for the last time. Up until now, Hong Kong was the only territory in China that allowed the commemoration to take place. Slogans calling for Hong Kong Independence, which can be seen on the poster nearby the candles, would also be banned under the National Security Law in the coming days, which would be punishable by life imprisonment.
On the first day of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, thousands took to the streets in defiance. Leading up to the nighttime, police can be seen leading arrested protestors onto a bus, who will be transferred to a police station later on. Since the passing of the NSL in July 2020, 93 individuals have been arrested under this piece of legislation, which punishes acts of secession, subversion, foreign interference, and terrorism with up to life imprisonment. In the most dramatic act yet, 53 individuals who had participated in unofficial democratic primaries months earlier were arrested in a single day.
On the evening of June 30, 2020, the National Security Law was officially enacted in Hong Kong. A quiet hush fell over the city. The NSL was announced a month earlier, but the details were not made available until then - not even to Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the top leader of Hong Kong. Composed of 66 articles redefining secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign collusion, it essentially banned all forms of dissent, with sentences punishable up to life imprisonment and applicable to everyone in the world. As night fell, people carefully read through these articles, with the new reality sinking in. Hong Kong, as we've known it, has ended.
Katherine KY Cheng
Katherine Cheng is a documentary photographer and videojournalist based between Toronto and Hong Kong, covering breaking news, daily events, and feature stories.