Fiction: Group 4
Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong
The Chinese Foundation Secondary School, Chong, Li Yen - 16, Fiction: Group 4
was naïve enough to believe that things would change after what had happened.
I was there when the tear gas rained down. A canister flew in the air with the shape of
parabola. It struck the floor 10 meters away from where I was standing and it exploded into a
cloud of gas.
The fumes struck me and others in the vicinity. I
felt my throat and eyes were burning, the scorching
made me cough and cry. The crowd screamed and ran away from the smoke. I sprinted with the crowd
towards safety and used the water to wash my eyes.
The water cooled down my burning eyes, I could see clearer, people were raising their umbrella to
block the pepper spray, some picked up the gas canister and threw it
back at the police. While some held
the smartphones to record the situation.
I called my mum on the phone, and said, “Hello mom, I am fine, don’t worry about me. I don’t
know why I got caught into the middle of the protest! I was just going home on the bus after I finished my
tutorial class in Sheung Wan. Then there was traffic and I had to walk to Wan Chai Station as Admiralty
Station was closed.”
She answered, “I am very worried about you. The police are armed with shotguns and plastic
bullets! They are pointing at the protesters! Be careful!”
I was shocked about what the police was doing, how could the law enforcement threaten the lives
of the protesters in order to disperse and clear the demonstrators?
Despite of the danger, I stayed to witness the historical event. The police stood in a rows,
preventing protesters from crossing the police line. As officers threw tear gas directly to the crowd. People
yelled, ”Get out!”. They retreated to avoid breathing in the irritating fumes. Then, the police move forward
to drive the protesters away. It was chaotic!
We shouted, ”Students are not guilty! Students are innocent!” and “Police are shameless! Police are
shameless!” But the police still continued to fire tear gas at the protesters and dispersed the demonstrators.
The protesters took precautions and covered their mouth with towels and cling wrap. They also
wore safety goggles and even gas masks. Reporters held their cameras and camcorders positioning themselves
between the protesters and the police to capture the moment.
It grew dark and the conflict continued. The clash between the protesters and police caused many
injuries. They sought help in the Red Cross Headquarters at Harcourt Road. Red Cross nurses helped the
wounded to check and perform first aid to those in need. Some were sent to the hospital for further
inspection and treatment.
By midnight, I was sweaty, fatigue and smelly. I was filled with the stink of the tear gas, and I had
to go to school on the next day. Therefore I decided to go home to rest and prepare for tomorrow’s school.
The next day, even though, the Education Bureau announced that schools in Wan Chai District,
Central and Western District were suspended. I still went as my school was not in the affected districts.
When I got to school, there were students handing out yellow ribbons
,
masks and leaflets. I took those
things and read the flyer, which wrote,” Wear the yellow ribbons and masks. Then participate in the
student’s boycott in the playground.”
I went to my classroom to drop off my bag. My classmates called me and we went down to the
playground and took part in the sit-in. There were many student participants, mostly seniors.
Suddenly, a teacher stood up and announced,” We teachers have discussed with the school principal,
and we have decided to move the boycott to the hall.”
He continued,” However, students who participate in this boycott will be marked. Teachers will call
your parents about this event. Parents are required to write a parent letter to inform the school that they
know their child had partaken in the boycott.”
After hearing this, some students left including two from our class because they were afraid that their
parents would not approve of them joining the strike. Faced with political suppression from the school, I
kept on with my dogged determination.
I
