On the evening of the National Day holiday, several Hong Kong groups in Taiwan held a gathering at Freedom Square in Taipei titled “Taiwan-Hong Kong Connection against Authoritarianism.” This event focused on “not celebrating authoritarianism” and incorporated the Hong Kong folk tradition of “beating the villains” to express dissatisfaction with authoritarian regimes, while also calling for democratic societies to pay attention to potential threats such as cross-border repression.
According to reports from independent media outlet “Pulse HK” and Taiwan’s “Central News Agency,” the event took place around 7 p.m. on that day. Hong Kong Frontier Youth, the Chinese Democracy Academy Association, the Hong Kong Human Rights Front, and Taiwanese civil groups raised flags bearing the words “Hong Kong Independence,” the snow lion flag of Tibet, and a black flag with the slogan “Eradicate the Chinese Communist Party, the only way out.”
The first segment of the event was the “beating of the villains.” The organizers placed portraits of top Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and others on the ground, and attendees symbolically expressed their discontent by hitting the “villains.” Finally, the portraits along with the Chinese Communist Party flag were thrown into a furnace and burned, symbolizing “cremating the villains, welcoming democratic figures.”
Subsequently, Fung Chi-chung, Secretary General of Hong Kong Frontier Youth, pointed out in his speech that these folk customs were originally part of Hong Kong people’s daily lives but have become impossible to openly practice in Hong Kong after the implementation of the National Security Law. These folk memories now serve as the driving force for them to continue speaking out overseas.
Choi Chi-ho, Project Manager of the Chinese Democracy Academy Association who has obtained Taiwanese citizenship, reminded that oppression from authoritarian regimes does not automatically cease just because it crosses borders. Even in Taiwan, there are individuals like him who feel fear due to their public engagement and political stance. He called on Taiwan and other democratic societies to have the ability to recognize “cross-border repression” and establish systems to protect victims.
Tang Wai-hung, a Hong Kong civil rights activist who participated in the anti-extradition bill protests, added that some people believe that under authoritarian rule, they can remain safe by “not discussing politics or opposing the government,” which is a completely erroneous notion. He cited the example of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University dormitory fire last November, where some citizens were arrested simply for speaking out to help the victims, proving that whether one speaks up or remains silent, freedoms and rights can be mercilessly suppressed. Therefore, he urged the people of Taiwan to bravely step forward and resist authoritarianism together.