Since the anti-extradition movement in 2019, Hong Kong people have been fleeing overseas continuously, from old to young, scattered around the world, including in many states of the United States. They may be away from home, but their dreams persist: they hope to return to Hong Kong in the near future, and rebuild the prosperity and freedom of the “Pearl of the Orient.”
On Sunday, the 12th, Hong Kong entrepreneur Mr. Yuan Gongyi, who is in exile in the United States, arrived in Los Angeles to discuss with fellow exiled Hong Kongers the establishment of a “Hong Kong Parliament” and its future prospects. Around several dozen Hong Kongers actively participated in the discussion, expressing their views and hoping to find a way forward for the future of Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Parliament, initiated by Yuan Gongyi, aims to represent overseas Hong Kongers through the parliament, gathering the dispersed voices into one, allowing exiled Hong Kongers to reach consensus and unite to work together.
“After making a decision and having a voice, whether dealing with foreign governments or anyone else, there will be a legitimate basis,” Yuan Gongyi said. He emphasized that the Hong Kong Parliament should be elected by the people to be representative and legitimate. They plan to start voting in late March, ending in mid-April.
With Hong Kong’s freedom and democracy being stifled by the Chinese Communist Party, Yuan Gongyi estimated that over the past few years, hundreds of thousands of people have left, with a majority being under the age of 50. He recently visited Vancouver, London, Manchester, Taiwan, and other places, and saw that young people are actively supporting the Hong Kong Parliament, as “they feel that their future has been snatched away and pillaged by the Communist Party, and they want to fight back.”
He understands that those who remain in Hong Kong are in dire straits: after American capital withdrew, investment banks, law firms, and accounting firms have all seen an exodus; even wealthier individuals are withdrawing their investments. Hong Kong’s property prices continue to plummet significantly. The high-end hotels, office buildings, and luxury shopping malls owned by the five major real estate families have seen severe price declines due to lack of business; properties are not selling, and loans are not being repaid. He estimates that unemployment will worsen in a year or two, affecting more ordinary people.
Despite being wanted online by Chinese security police for organizing the Hong Kong Parliament, Yuan Gongyi’s pace has not been halted. He reiterated the five goals of the “Declaration of a Free Hong Kong” released by the Hong Kong Parliament Organizing Committee; besides freedom, rule of law, and human rights, he particularly emphasized two more: that Hong Kong’s sovereignty belongs to the people of Hong Kong, and that there should be no Communist Party in Hong Kong’s future.
Why must the Hong Kong political arena abandon the Communist Party? Yuan Gongyi said, “The Communist Party has destroyed the world, there is not a single country that has not been destroyed by it. We must ensure that there is no Communist Party in the future Hong Kong and no ‘People’s Liberation Army.’ Party members must resign.”
Yuan Gongyi believes that while the Chinese Communist Party used to cover up its actions well, as its overseas infiltration has become more apparent, it is now beginning to contract globally. “Starting from the Trump trade war, many platforms have exposed the Communist Party together; so now it is trying to hide its faults, rather than becoming more powerful, it really isn’t.”
He sees that the influence of the Communist Party on Wall Street and Hollywood is weakening. “It is becoming more afraid, and we need to continuously expose its problems.”
Yuan Gongyi stated that after the establishment of the Hong Kong Parliament, the first session can draft the “Hong Kong Charter.” Taking the powerful United States as a reference, its strength lies in its strong constitution, which grants human rights to everyone. “This is what we must do first, and then we can set up departments and courts. We will proceed in accordance with the situation.”
A self-media personality on YouTube, the post-2000 generation from Hong Kong, “Yi Sui Jun,” was investigated by national security police for six months when he was 15 years old and sought political asylum in the United States in 2022, and now he is attending university. In his speech on site, he expressed that the current Hong Kong has no way out, the economy is declining, living space for young people is getting smaller, and there is no political freedom. He believes, “The situation of young people in Hong Kong will only get worse, and the way out is to leave Hong Kong.”
Yi Sui Jun feels that some Hong Kongers, and even democratic figures, still have a sense of false hope. “In fact, since the National Security Law in 2020, with just a push of a button and a few words from the Communist Party, Hong Kong’s fate can change overnight.”
He expressed understanding for the reluctance of Hong Kong people to leave their homeland, “So we need to establish a political organization for exiled Hong Kongers to represent Hong Kong people and fight for their rights.” ◇