Anna Kwok (25), and her friends are still able to remember their trip to Hong Kong Disneyland in 2007.
T aEUR”, her friend who was also born and raised in Hong Kong, tells Kwok as they chat over Zoom. Out of fear of reprisal from Hong Kong’s government, NPR has allowed T to use his initial.
He chuckles, “It was boring.”
This yearlong pass was mostly used as a nicety for Kwok, T and other children born in 1997 when Hong Kong was returned to China. The adults in the room kept telling them how special they were, that they were the “handover baby”.
T said, “It sounds like an absurd joke.” To be truthful, I don’t consider being born in 1997 to be anything special. Perhaps it’s just a natural part of our generation to have to deal with such events.”
The handover will reach a crucial halfway point on Thursday when Hong Kong officially becomes a part China in 2047. Hong Kong’s handover comes on the heels of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis. This adds to the somber mood that still hovers over the city after the pro-democracy protests of 2014 and 2019. Also, the government’s subsequent crackdowns against dissidents as well as political organizers under the 2020 national security law.
Tsim Sha Tsui and KowloonHong Kong are getting ready to celebrate the 25th anniversary since its handover from China. pic.twitter.com/VF25TrgR1u
This turbulent background means that the “handover baby” political arrangement, which they never had any say in, is now 25 years old.
Kwok and T live very different lives a decade after their first encounter at Model United Nations high school. Kwok is a campaign director and strategy director for the Hong Kong Democracy Council, Washington. T is still based in the city, where he works for one of the most important financial centers.
The diverging paths to their lives are the result of political turmoil over the past 25 years, when they had to reevaluate the relationship with Hong Kong and their respective communities.
Kwok stated that she was still optimistic about China as a child.
In 2008, during the Beijing Olympics, her school sent her and other students to China. She said that “back then, there were still stages where people were hopeful for change to happen.”
T and she met when they were high school students. Their lives revolved around extracurricular activities or studying for exams. The two of them shared a similar sense of hope back then. Politics was a small part of their friendship group and it didn’t need to for the moment.
With the Umbrella Movement of 2014, there was a rift in their social networks. Others held different views. This was evident quickly through their Instagram stories that featured pro-police comments and casual comments about the necessity to follow the law.
T stated that they didn’t want to cause trouble in their friend group or at school. “So friendships started filtering [themselves] very naturally. I was curious about their priorities.
Kwok and T remained close to each other despite the social fractures created by the pro-democracy demonstrations.
T stated, “We knew who and why we were supporting them.” “We knew that we were on the exact same page.”
T and Kwok split their lives just after high school. T stayed in Hong Kong and went to university to study finance and business.
Both their divergent worlds erupted again after the 2019 protest.
Students at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University were among the victims of the protests. Others who marched in protest were taken by the police and left behind.
T stated that he was always on the phone and calling his friends to try to find them. T was just starting his summer internship.
T stated that he doesn’t recall much about what had happened. “All I can remember is that the next day I gave my resignation.” It was all too much for me.
Many of his friends remain in prison, having been convicted or are awaiting their hearing under the National Security Law that the government used against journalists, political activists, and dissidents over the past two-years.
He said, “It could have been any of us” who went to prison. “Seeing my friends aEUR,” who could have had bright futures, get imprisoned gives me some survivors’ guilt.”
Survivors’ guilt plagued Kwok, too. Kwok was also plagued by guilt from being away for her studies abroad.
Kwok stated that she felt guilty whenever she saw photos on social media showing tear gas-sprayed protestors. “I wasn’t there to taste it with them.”
Kwok was glued to her TV and viewed every livestream whenever it was available. Kwok’s guilt at the beginning fueled her passion for pro-democracy activism.
Kwok stated that he was watching ten live streams simultaneously. “I was trying check where the police were stationed. Once I found anything, I would report it to the police.
This work naturally grew to the point where she was organizing human rights campaigns in Hong Kong for G-20. While she continued to work with her political networks and her community, more of her members were detained by the national security law in 2020 and 2021.
The arrests came too close. She would be resentful if she returned home.
She said that some people in Hong Kong had asked her not to return because they knew what was waiting for her. They told me to try my best and to do everything I can overseas to make Hong Kong a better place.
T has seen more of his social circle leave Hong Kong.
Kwok stated that Hong Kong has lost the trust between its citizens over the past 25 years. “We believed we could make it work and that we could win the good fight. With all the crackdowns, arrests, and other mistreatments, people lost trust in each other.”
T is deeply affected by the events of the past eight years. He still retains a moderate optimism.
It could take many decades, but in the long-term aEUR”, he said. I still believe that things will be fine. He said that maybe not in our prime years.” “But I must believe in this otherwise there would not be anything.”
Kwok’s return date to Hong Kong is unknown. T and she occasionally communicate, but less often than when they were high school students.
T stated, “Politics now carries a weight in all conversations, so that’s why we try to make most of our conversations about nothing really,”
They are happy to be together, but still worry about each other’s well-being.
T expressed concern for Kwok, saying, “Sometimes I wish on a friendship level, she could quit that work.” “But I know that she is doing well, and will do well.”
Both are unsure about the future and don’t want any hope for it.
Kwok stated that he doesn’t know what will happen in 25 years. “For now though, we know that there will be other Hong Kongs” – both in Hong Kong and elsewhere.
He said, “Part of why I didn’t leave Hong Kong was because I’m waiting for my jail friends.” They are still my family. I am not ready to give up. I want to be there when they come out. I would love to play mahjong again with them.”
