At the time of the surrender in 1997, Beijing promised the former British colony 50 years of self-government, as well as civil and political rights that do not exist in the mainland country ruled by the Communist Party. However, the growing repression of Beijing’s city liberties – including a national security law passed in 2020 that eliminated almost all controversy – has irreversibly changed the lives of the people of Hong Kong. “Things we assumed would always be here just faded away, like the system itself, like freedom of speech, freedom of the press, all of that, and we lost faith in our government,” said Iris, 25. Hong Kong born the year of delivery. “Overall, our generation is quite desperate for the future,” she said, calling for only her first name to be used. The clerk said many Hong Kong people saw her generation as “cursed”. Hong Kong-born people who were born around the time of tradition grew up in an atmosphere of resistance to Beijing’s breach of their way of life. They were children during mass protests against the proposed national security law in 2003 and teenagers during the 2014 protests at Occupy Central sparked by Beijing’s refusal to allow direct elections for the city leader. These demonstrations were followed in 2019 by mass protests against plans to allow extradition to the mainland. The demonstrations, which began peacefully before becoming violent, have expanded to include calls for greater autonomy and even independence from Beijing. Beijing responded the following year by imposing draconian national security legislation banning indefinitely defined acts of overthrow, secession, terrorism or collusion with foreign powers. Since then, much of the city’s political opposition has been imprisoned or forced into exile, dozens of civil society organizations have been disbanded, and critical and independent media outlets have been shut down. In the context of a radical overhaul of the electoral system, only candidates considered “patriots” can claim seats in the city’s legislature. Hong Kong’s Occupy Central protests in 2014 sparked by Beijing’s refusal to allow direct elections for the city leader [File: Daniel J. Groshong/Bloomberg] As part of the decline in freedoms, nearly 60 percent of young people have expressed a desire to immigrate in 2021, according to a survey by the Chinese University of Hong Kong. As a group, young Hong Kong people are more politically active than older people, with surveys conducted in 2019 showing that about 87 percent of 18-29 year olds supported pro-democracy demonstrations and 63 percent said they had taken part personally. Hong Kong residents under the age of 25 have fewer options to escape the city’s new political reality than older residents. While those born before the surrender on 1 July 1997 are entitled to a British national passport abroad, which has provided a gateway to the UK since last year, younger residents must look for work, study or family channels to immigrate. “As someone who was born in 1997, sometimes you feel that your future has already been decided by people born before 1997 and you are not part of the discussion about what your future looks like,” said Anna, who asked to be identified. only by her first name. The 25-year-old political activist has been living in exile outside Hong Kong since he became involved in the management of Telegram channels used to organize the 2019 protests. Such activities have led other protesters to long prison terms. Anna said the decision was difficult for her and her family – something that not all young people in Hong Kong can or are willing to take. Gary Pui-fung Wong, a lecturer at the University of Leeds whose research covers the cultural history of Hong Kong, said the combined pressures of being a Hong Kong and a young man are a powerful blend. Many people in their 20s are going through a transition phase as they begin to think more seriously about their future careers and family prospects, Wong said. Even before 2019, he said, this was difficult in Hong Kong, where renting – let alone buying – an apartment is inaccessible to most young people. “Right now they have to look at the future of the city in their own personal plan,” Wong told Al Jazeera. “If Hong Kong continues to integrate into mainland China, then this city may face a fundamental change, so they need to think about immigration, especially if the UK and Canada open up options for some. [university] graduates to move “. Tens of thousands of people have fled Hong Kong due to the imposition of a draconian national security law and some of the world’s longest-running restrictions on COVID [File:Justin Chin/Bloomberg] For the young Hong Kong people who chose to stay in the city, some found a purpose through the city’s local movement. The movement, which has emerged over the past 15 years, has sought to maintain the distinction between Hong Kong and mainland China, whether in Cantonese, colonial architecture or cha chaan teng cafes serving hybrid Western-Cantonese cuisine. Jen, a 25-year-old from Hong Kong who runs a cultural space and conducts research on Hong Kong culture, said exploring the city’s culture can allow a little freedom of expression even when overtly political activism is limited. “I think a lot of people are talking about migrating elsewhere, but I feel that after 2019, a lot of people are also starting to be interested – or feel the importance – of researching and understanding Hong Kong culture,” he told Al Jazeera. . “I know there is something that can be done [here], providing space for different cultural events. We can not make big demonstrations or celebrate the 4th of June [the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square killings in Beijing], but that does not mean that everything has stopped. I want to continue with small-scale things. “ Olivia, a tradition-born media worker, said that while preparing mentally for more draconian changes, such as closing down her media, she has found solace in her community. “Although we can not make our voices heard [heard]we can still connect with people around us, “Olivia told Al Jazeera, asking to be named only. Recalling a recent visit to a friend who is serving a prison sentence for his political activism, she said she realized the importance of staying in Hong Kong to support her friends in difficult circumstances. “Although we can not touch each other [when I visited], we could only see each other and talk to each other, we connected. “I can see him smiling,” he said. “I can hear his voice and that is very important. That is one of the reasons I still live in Hong Kong. “
