Almost six months into ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, an estimated 800,000 people took to the streets on December 8, 2019 at an approved march. Families, the elderly, aunties, uncles, and fired up youth joined together in peaceful solidarity to reiterate their five demands to the government.
Photo by Ben Marans
“Five demands! Not one less! Fight for freedom! Stand with Hong Kong!”
These defiant words of protest were not shouted by a young, black-clad protester wielding a Molotov cocktail, but by a middle-aged office worker, sporting dress shoes, a finely-tailored suit, and holding a cup of bubble tea leftover from lunch. He was participating in a “lunch with us” protest on a small patch of grass in front of the lumbering office tower where he worked.
Next to him stood an auntie, fresh from her daily shopping at the wet market, her surgical mask hiding her identity but not her years of wisdom nor her deep concern for the younger generation that is mired in the biggest fight of their lives.
Local residents gather inside the CityPlaza Mall in Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong to sing and hold hands in solidarity. Families with kids, seniors with flip phones, and passionate youth gathered peacefully in protest against what they view as an authoritarian government and an unaccountable police force.
Photo by Ben Marans
The past eight months in Hong Kong have been marked by protests as people have taken to the streets in a fight for democracy, government accountability, and human rights. There have been over 800 demonstrations involving an estimated 14 million people. The police have arrested more than 7,000 people (from kids to adults to seniors), with only 20 convictions and ten prison sentences to date. In November, an election for district representatives saw an incredible 71 percent voter turnout and a significant loss for the pro-government camp. Through all of this, it has become clear that the people of Hong Kong no longer have faith in their government, nor in the police force once dubbed “Asia’s finest.”
This movement has received global attention. Local journalists are joined by hundreds of foreign correspondents, many clad in a bright yellow vest, protective helmet, and a gas mask to protect from the more than 16,000 rounds of tear gas fired in almost every neighbourhood of the city.
A young man uses saline solution to relieve the discomfort of tear gas after riot police fired on a crowd of civilians in Taikoo Shing.
Photo by Ben Marans
The predominant story told is one of violence, anger, civil disobedience, police brutality, an ailing economy, and a government that has largely ignored the will of the people. While these are the realities of life in Hong Kong, they fail to tell the complete story.
But beyond the headlines and the frontlines are countless people supporting the movement: aunties dropping food coupons into donation boxes, office workers writing holiday cards to those in detention, and citizens offering first aid and moral support to one another during these difficult times.
These are stories of kindness, not anger. Humanity, not violence. Community, not conflict. These are stories of people who have finally found their identity and are fighting to preserve it. These are stories of a resilient community that works hard all week, spends what little time and money they have to protest on the weekend, and return to their offices on Monday.
A mother raises her hand in solidarity with pro-democracy protesters during a lunch-time rally in Taikoo Shing.
Photo by Ben Marans
And so, in a time so mired in sorrow and anger, here are some stories of hope and connection that have sustained this movement - and the spirits of the people - for so many months:
Cards for humanity. Lunch hours in Hong Kong consist of thousands of office workers pouring out of their buildings to queue up for takeout at their local noodle or sandwich shop. In late December, dozens of office workers instead spent their lunch hour writing messages of hope and love to those who would be in detention over the holidays. Hearing the idea on an online forum, the organizers spent their own money to purchase boxes of standard greeting cards and to print customized versions with protest-related characters and themes. Over two days, they collected more than a thousand cards, each one with a message of love and hope for the unknown recipient. Delivered in advance of the holidays by district councillors, the cards were a reminder that nobody was forgotten during what was supposed to be a festive time of year.
On December 16, 2019, office workers and local residents in Taikoo Shing took time during their lunch break to write messages of love, hope, and seasons greetings to those that have been detained by police over the past six months of pro-democracy protests.
Photo by Ben Marans
Ga Yao! Billed as a ‘tour of the neighbourhood’, Quarry Bay residents gathered at a nearby MTR transit station on a stifling Saturday in August. Their real objective: to walk through the middle-class neighbourhoods of Taikoo Shing and Kornhill, speak with their neighbours about the movement and encourage everyone to attend a peaceful rally the next day (which ultimately attracted upwards of 800,000 people). During the tour, an elderly man was spotted standing in the window of his high-rise flat, offering a thumbs up and a homemade sign (“Ga Yao” which means “add oil”). While he may not have been able to march, his display of support and encouragement were fully present and appreciated by those below.
A man stands in the window of his high-rise flat in the Kornhill neighbourhood of Hong Kong, offering a thumbs up and words of encouragement to pro-democracy advocates below. The sign reads "Ga Yao" which means "add oil," a commonly used Cantonese metaphor used to offer encouragement and support.
Photo by Ben Marans
Movement(s) of the people. On another late-summer day, tens of thousands of peaceful protesters spilled into the streets of Causeway Bay, umbrellas in hand to ward off the hot summer rain. From a distance, the familiar wailing of a siren could be heard and, without hesitation, the crowd moved as one and parted to let the vehicle through. This was just one example of the care and support on display during these mass gatherings: custom hand signals used to call for first aid responders or to move a crowd in a certain direction; altruistic activists handing out free masks or saline solution (for clearing the eyes of tear gas or pepper spray victims); and tables overflowing with donations of bottled water, clean clothes, transit fare, and even food coupons for those without the means to afford a hot meal.
Thousands of pro-democracy protesters took to the streets on August 19, 2019 in Hong Kong. Despite the huge number of people, the crowd parted quickly to allow an ambulance to get through.
Photo by Ben Marans
Cleaning up the chaos. After what started as a peaceful protest on a Sunday in October, groups of protesters started to build barricades to block traffic and to insulate the crowds from riot police. News quickly spread that the police were moving in with their water cannon, a mobile vehicle filled with a noxious blue substance to disperse protesters and mark them for later identification. At around 4 pm, several journalists and politicians who were milling about in front of the Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre were suddenly sprayed by police, covering them and the mosque with the blue dye. While it took police many hours to offer an apology, within minutes, concerned citizens were on-site using wet wipes and pocket tissues to clean up the mess and to restore dignity to a religious institution caught in the crossfire.
Concerned citizens help clean up the Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre after it was sprayed with noxious blue dye by the Hong Kong Police.
Photo by Ben Marans
The Yellow Economy. With loyalties divided between pro-democracy advocates and pro-government (and pro-Beijing) supporters, a colour system is implemented: yellow for the former, blue for the latter. This has further spawned an economic movement during which protesters actively support ‘yellow’ shops and restaurants, some of which simply display pro-democracy posters while others donate food and offer jobs to underemployed activists. At one such cha chaan teng in Causeway Bay (a traditional, local cafe offering an affordable and diverse Hong Kong-style menu), a university student was having afternoon tea while discussing how she could help tell the story of the movement with her peers outside of Hong. When she went to pay her bill, she was informed by the cashier that someone else had already paid it (likely the gentleman sitting at the next table who was listening in). This was yet another story of the warmth and community-mindedness that is so often obscured by the tear gas.
A woman donates food coupons at a collection box during a pro-democracy rally.
Photo by Ben Marans
Hong Kong remains one of the safest cities in the world. It is home to incredibly hard-working, entrepreneurial and creative professionals, and of people who have found community and identity in a common cause. Yes, the violence, vandalism, and police brutality are stories that must be told. These tragedies are the ones that capture international headlines and act as the drivers for global awareness and advocate for change. However, the stories of humanity and hope are just as important to understand these are people fighting for a brighter future for themselves and future generations. These heartwarming demonstrations of solidarity and kindness will continue to bring hope in the fight against authoritarianism.
For more stories from Hong Kong, visit Ben Marans’ website.
