Commentary
“Repower Hkers: Reviving Civic Rights for Hongkongers,” a seven-session forum held in a school in Hayes, London on June 11 and 12, 2022, hosted by the newly founded Association of Overseas Hong Kong Media Professionals, discussed the disintegration of civil society in Hong Kong and the ways Hongkongers might face such changes. It was joined by renowned speakers such as Joseph Lian Yizheng, Victor Ng Ming-tak, Lee Yee, Stephen Shiu Yeuk-yuen, Chung Kim-wah, Ching Cheong and Benedict Rogers. It attracted 1,600 Hongkongers, and all sessions were well-attended.
Besides conducting academic discussions, the issue of how to practically connect with Hongkongers in Britain was also addressed. A number of Hongkonger stores were invited to the venue to offer relevant services and products; snacks were provided as the visitors attending the marathon discussions certainly needed refreshment breaks, especially so as the venue is remote from a shopping area. Among them, the one I liked most is “Gathering Leaves Hong Kong,” a library in London that keeps a good stock of Hongkonger books, newspapers like the defunct Apple Daily, and propaganda items from the past protest movements, all of which are useful to help overseas Hongkongers consolidate their spiritual foundation and gather the strength to move forward….