Swiss Radio and Television (SRF) reported on the 21st that in today’s Hong Kong, anyone who resists the rule of the Chinese Communist regime may face imprisonment. The report interviewed Tang Wai-hung, a Hong Kong resident in exile in Taiwan, who has been fighting against the cross-border suppression by the Chinese Communist Party in Taiwan, and is dedicated to preserving Hong Kong’s culture and memory.
The report, titled “How a Hong Kong Resident Warns Taiwan of China,” first takes the audience back to the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement in Beijing, the June 4th Tiananmen Square incident, and the last major democratic demonstration in the summer of 2019 where millions of Hong Kongers took to the streets, emphasizing the increasing influence of the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong.
It then highlights the last major period of resistance by Hong Kong’s civil society, during which Tang Wai-hung was charged with “disturbing public order” for participating in demonstrations. Following this, he decided to leave Hong Kong and seek exile in Taiwan. Recently, he faced political pressure once again for calling for a boycott of elections in Hong Kong on Facebook. Up to now, he remains on the wanted list of the Hong Kong authorities.
Tang Wai-hung fled to Taiwan with his wife and teaches Muay Thai and self-defense in Taipei. However, during his days in exile, he also has to face the pain of seeing Hong Kong’s culture gradually disappearing.
He believes that Hong Kong is no longer the familiar city it used to be, saying, “We used to have our own culture, our own way of life, our own system, but now all I see in Hong Kong is China.” Therefore, he sees preserving Hong Kong’s culture and memory as a lifelong mission.
The report also mentions that when he was running a martial arts gym in Taipei, unknown individuals sprayed red paint on the door. In order to protect his neighbors, he ultimately chose to move, but that did not silence him. He said, “The Chinese Communist Party hopes I feel scared, guilty, and isolated.” However, he chose to keep the painted door as a reminder to the world of how the CCP treats dissenters.
Tang Wai-hung’s greatest hope is to preserve Hong Kong’s culture and memory and to remind more Taiwanese people through his story that democracy and freedom need to be cherished and safeguarded.
He believes that the Chinese Communist Party has violated its promise to govern Hong Kong under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems.” Therefore, he hopes that Taiwanese society will not forget the experience of Hong Kong and not assume that democracy and freedom will never change.
(Source: Central News Agency)