What Hong Kong people can do if they feel Beijing is tightening its grip on freedoms

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Participants in the annual July 1 march, from Victoria Park to the Hong Kong government headquarters in Admiralty, last year. Photo: David Wong

Published: 10:17am, 21 Apr 2018Updated: 12:34pm, 15 Oct 2020

I am writing in response to the articles, “British report warns Beijing is increasing pressure on Hong Kong’s basic rights and freedoms” (April 18) and “In China’s embrace, Hong Kong people face a stark choice: money or freedoms” (April 18).

Earlier this year, a Washington-based human rights NGO said the freedom score of Hong Kong had hit a seven-year low, citing Beijing’s “ever greater influence” on the special administrative region.

I live in Hong Kong and, although our government always says there is still a lot of freedom that the central government in Beijing has given us, many Hongkongers feel the limits imposed on the freedom of speech have become a serious concern.

For example, the recent disqualification of some elected members of the Legislative Council stirred sharp divisions in society.

Public fears pressure from Beijing is leading to end of press freedom in Hong Kong

There are not many things we can do. However, we can keep ourselves informed about the latest news, know more about the issues behind political problems, and read up more about what is happening in Hong Kong. We can also protest or join a march against policies we find unacceptable, or when we feel that freedom of speech in Hong Kong is being eroded. We must make our thoughts and views known.