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Due to the chilly weather, few people tend to stay long at our street station. However, a couple stood in front of our busking team for quite a while, which led me to offer them two cups of steaming Hong Kong-style milk tea. After they accepted the cups, they started to ask numerous questions in Mandarin. Admittedly, hearing Mandarin initially made me cautious, but as we spoke, I realized they had a significant understanding of and sympathy for Hong Kong's political situation. Not all people from mainland China support the nationalist fervour; in that moment, I felt a sense of shared struggle, whether as Chinese, Hongkongers, or individuals across the globe facing oppression by authoritarian powers. We all confront the same Leviathan.
They inquired, "Did you come to the UK motivated by the 2014 movement for true universal suffrage or the 2019 anti-extradition bill protests?" This question indeed prompted deeper thought. Without the precursor movements such as the anti-national education protests, the Umbrella Movement, or the Fishball Revolution, the sweeping events of 2019 would not have occurred. Yet, we barely had time to process the aftermath of 2014 before being catapulted into the even more transformative and massive events of 2019, which swept more people into the epoch's whirlwind. Both 2014 and 2019 marked significant political movements in Hong Kong, with the era's turbulence blending today's grief, hope, and frustration.
With life and time eroding memories, it's challenging to hold on to the past, yet it's heartening to see that people still remember those who have endured hardship. Facing unavoidable suffering, we must confront it, transforming it into a force that matures our minds and serves as a foundation for empathy and connection. Supporting each other, we must remember why we live and for whom. Therefore, amidst the hardships and the proliferation of malice, whether you remain in Hong Kong or are scattered around the world seeking freedom, I hold deep respect and appreciation for you. I am thankful for everyone who chooses kindness, offers support, and extends well wishes to those in pursuit of freedom. Let us inspire one another.
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