

Unraveling The Evolution of Hong Kong's Civic Life
May 29, 2023
Louisa Lim, a senior lecturer in journalism and author of "Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong," shares her insights on Hong Kong’s evolving civic life. She discusses the recent, subdued protests against land reclamation, contrasting them with the intense 2019 demonstrations. Lim highlights the impact of the national security law on freedom of expression and the chilling effects of surveillance on identity. She also examines how authorities are rewriting history to foster loyalty amidst rising political repression.
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Shrinking Protests in Hong Kong
- In Hong Kong's first authorized protest in three years, 80 people marched against a land reclamation project.
- This contrasts with the massive 2019 protests against extradition laws, highlighting the decline in freedom of expression.
State-Induced Amnesia in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong authorities are rewriting history, suppressing journalists, and altering textbooks.
- They're even redefining Hong Kong's colonial past, rejecting the term "colony" in favor of "occupied territory."
Familiar Playbook in Hong Kong
- The Chinese government's tactics in Hong Kong mirror those used after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
- These include propaganda campaigns, loyalty pledges, and flag-raising ceremonies to enforce patriotism.