Fiction: Group 4
Later, the remaining students moved to the hall and sat on the floor. A student stood on the stage
and introduced us to the current political systems of Hong Kong, the details on the Standing Committee of
the NPC decision on electoral reform.
Students who were in the protest share their experience and feelings about the protest and the tear
gas. I felt depress when they talked about the tear gas, because I was there when the tear gas rained down. I
was there when I felt the intolerable burning sensation.
We also watched the protest live through the Apple Daily website, luckily there were no tear gas, no
police using violence. It was just a peaceful demonstration in Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok.
Nearing the end of the day, we sang "Glorious Years" and "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies". Everybody
sang, emotions were intense, uniting a common goal of true universal suffrage.
That day was educational and emotional. We learnt many things about the
current political
situations in HK, about other country’s elections, unfairness in the decision of NPC. Also, student shared
their thoughts so we could know more the different perspectives and viewpoints of other
students.
However, when I got home, trouble came.....
"Mum, I'm home." I said as I opened the door.
"Why did you joined the boycott! You know that your grades is always the first priority! " My mum
said furiously.
“Why would you waste your time for some stupid dream of true universal suffrage? Why don’t you
just concentrate on your studies and get a decent job when you grow up!” She continued.
“I don’t think that getting a good, high paying job is important when we cannot have the right to
elect our Chief Executive!” I answered.
“Didn’t NPC allow us to elect our Chief Executive?” She asked
“Yes, but it is not fair to us when the candidates are preselected by 1200 people!” I said.
“Well at least you got what you want! You and those protesters shouldn’t be insatiable. Don’t push
the NPC, you know they won’t give in easily!” She spoke crossly.
“But……” I tried to reply but my mom stopped me.
“Enough, I don’t want to talk about you and the protester’s aspiration anymore! You should be
grateful when the NPC made its decision.” She kept on going.
“Don’t you know how much damage the movement caused economically? Do you know that the
movement cause a lot of trouble to the resident? Do you know there are traffic jams because of the occupy
movement?” She continued for 5 more minutes, but I wasn’t listening.
"Hey! Are you listening? Answer me!" She yelled. I didn't answer.
"Fine! Then you are grounded until the movement is finished!" She yanked me inside my room and
closed the door.
I didn't understand why she was so angry. It was just one day of boycott. It won't last for a whole year.
Missing one day of lesson won't cause a huge impact to my study.
Due to the fact that I was grounded, I wasn’t able to go to the Umbrella Movement. Therefore, I
watched the news, YouTube and the briefing from the police at 4 o’clock daily to get the updated
information about the happenings that day
.
I watched in the news about six policemen who arrested a protester and brought him to a dark
corner. They kicked and beat him for over three minutes. Although TVB featured the beating in their news
report, they deleted the narration on the next day’s news. Making me think that this channel is in favour of
the government.
This incident was trending all over the place in the internet and social media. Everyone was
commenting about it, mostly people felt sympathetic with the protester and thought that the police used too
much force. While some thought that the police did the right thing. Some thought TVB have self-
censorship and it affect the freedom of press.
There were also many videos showing clashes between the protesters and anti-protesters. Some of
the anti-protesters brought knife to remove the barrier and some even sexually harassed women
demonstrators verbally and physically.
I just hoped that people with conflicting ideas could keep calm and maintain peace and discuss the
issue sensibly and rationally. Also, they would not use violence as a means to express opinions and oppose
other people
