Fighting Against Tyranny

By Agni Woo

Fighting Against Tyranny is a book that reveals and describes the origin and truths behind the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement (Anti-ELAB Movement) in 2019. Details regarding all of the subsequential demonstrations and protests are also included within.

This movement became an unavoidable part of life for Hong Kong people in 2019. The Anti-ELAB movement has changed from a movement purely aimed at full withdrawal of the extradition bill, to a revolution of our time, which aims to liberate Hong Kong.

There were more than two million participants in the movement during its peak period. What was beyond our expectations is that thousands of young people sacrificed their lives and freedom. Our ultimate objective is to achieve the five demands, not one less. Because of our perseverance, we have also gained support and recognition from the international community.

Yet, the movement has not reached its end before the publication of this book. The number of participants keeps growing, more than four million people from Hong Kong have made contributions to this movement directly and indirectly. Protesting against tyranny is now a part of our life and has become a ‘new normal’. As the representation of our collective inner thoughts this book is worth owning. The author portrays the lives and stories of Hong Kong people with vivid expressions and photos, as if it is a diary written by everyone participating.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brown Dog Books
• Release date: Jun 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9781839525162

Book preview

Preface

It has been nine months since my first participation in the Anti-ELAB Movement in February. Lots of changes have taken place during these few months. There were only ten thousand participants in the first rally from Southorn Playground to Central Government Offices in Admiralty. What was beyond my expectation was that there were more than a million people participating in the rally with the same objective on 9 June. After two more weeks, there were even 2 million people joining the protest! The number was 200 times more than three months before - astonishing! Persecuted in the same sort of way, Hongkongers should fight against the totalitarian CCP. With our ‘five demands’, we demand CCP to withdraw the bill and implement the ‘one man, one vote’ system.

More than 200 martyrs have sacrificed themselves during this revolution and Anti-ELAB Movement in four months. There have been around four thousand people arrested and numerous people injured. The movement has not yet ended. Although none of us knows what will happen and nobody can predict the ending, the only thing we want is to liberate Hong Kong. Hang in there, Hongkongers! Believe in yourself and we will soon meet each other in the Legislative Council Complex!

Despite the fact that the Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement was withdrawn in October, police brutality continues to happen. Not all the five demands we raised are fulfilled. The desperately wanted independent panel of inquiry has not yet been established. We also want the government to disband the police force as they even cooperated with the gangsters in raping and killing our young people, hurting the public indiscriminately. Has the government responded to us regarding this matter? How will they react? CCP, the sole governing political party of the People’s Republic of China, is the power behind the bloody suppression. Some Chinese People’s Armed Police Force also sneaked into the Hong Kong Police Force, raping, harming and killing our people. Our outrage urges us to resist. Not only will this revolution liberate Hong Kong, but also China!

The Anti-ELAB Movement has become an anti-China and anti-brutality movement. We want our revolution also to inspire the Chinese. Let us all fight together to overthrow the CCP and establish true democracy in China. This revolution of the times must drive the CCP out, liberating both Hong Kong and China. Be a team player. Teamwork makes dreams work.

I wrote the book ‘Fighting Against Tyranny’ with tears in my eyes and in the midst of illness during these days of sadness and anger. Despite my illness, I still participated in dozens of marches, rallies and protests. I have first-hand experience and have been exposed to tear gas many times. I am one of the silver-haired who participated in this movement. The struggles of young people and their indomitable spirit give us more hope. As a Christian and the author of this book, I specifically mention the participation of churches in Hong Kong. Although not all churches in Hong Kong participate in this movement, some of their participation still tells us that God is on the protesters’ side. At the same time, some of our pastoral staff went to the front line, guarding the children and joining the movement. More and more people in Hong Kong joined the movement in the past five months, making it a movement for all. There will be no disconnection, accusation, and blame. We are all united for the future of Hong Kong. Revolution of the times, liberating Hong Kong!

I have written many articles but not many books for all these times. Fighting Against Tyranny is the third book written and published by me. The last book I wrote is Disasters and Blessings, published ten years ago. My first published book was Understanding China Today in 1999. I hope this book will be the record and the statement of the truth of this glorious revolution. This book will also be published in English for the first time to allow the whole world to understand the objectives and aims of this movement. Again, I would also like to call on churches and believers who are turning deaf ears, it’s time to wake up! Stop teaming up with the spectre of communism haunting Europe. Stay with God, uphold justice and truth, and pray for our people. Do not serve evil, repent to God. Pray for the protesters and be their support. May God bless the people of Hong Kong. May the peace of God be upon everyone in Hong Kong.

Author: Agni Woo 4 November 2019

Foreword by Philip Lam

After being offended by the proposed Moral and National Education and experiencing the Umbrella Movement, people in Hong Kong have lost confidence in the practice of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ controlled solely by CCP. Acknowledging this fact, the government led by Carrie Lam can still neglect public opinions, wanting to pass the Amendment of Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance on 12 June 2019. It was hard for us not to suspect that it was planned as a gift to ‘Emperor Xi’ whose birthday is on 15 June. Yet, it ended up waking up all the Hongkongers, gathering more than 1 million people to participate in the rally on 9 June 2019. Firing the first tear gas at pro-democracy protesters on 12 June, the Hong Kong police successfully provoked two million Hong Kong citizens, who participated in the largest protest in Hong Kong’s history on 16 June. However, this spectacular scene and accumulated grumbles and anger of the people have never awakened the unrepentant government. They gathered and utilised their police force, allowing for the Yuen Long 721 incident to happen and participating in the 2019 Prince Edward station attack. Their actions have shocked the whole world, without a doubt. Today, Hong Kong has become a battleground between the people of Hong Kong and the brutal regime led by Carrie Lam and supported by CCP. This situation only leaves people with worry and fear. Written by Agni Woo Fighting Against Tyranny is a book of truth, revealing all the facts and details underlying the movement. By compiling this book, it is hoped that the global world will understand better the tragedy happening in Hong Kong, and hopefully, give a helping hand to us in supporting our revolution and liberating Hong Kong!

Philip Lam 3 December 2019.

Foreword by Howie Yeung

The Anti-ELAB Movement which started in 2019 is the largest anti-government protest in the history of Hong Kong since it became a trading port. No one can possibly predict the ending, but I firmly believe that God will be the one who upholds justice and makes the final judgement. The interesting question is, what is the role of the church in this revolutionary history? Since the outbreak in June, some pastors and believers sang Sing Hallelujah To The Lord in front of the anti-riot squad, gaining widespread compliments. Yet, we need to be aware that those who sang hymns were representing themselves, but not on behalf of any church.

Escalated conflicts and more violent police forces scared those pastors and believers away. To most of the Christians, joining the valiant is unbiblical. Should we be the mediators or protectors? The reality of police brutality told us that there is no role for us in the front line. Therefore, whenever there was a protest during the weekend, some churches and centres were willing to let participants rest or hide from the tear gas. Nevertheless, smeared by pro-China media, some churches worried about their own safety and were reluctant to open to the public.

There were once some party meetings organised by Christians which had attracted thousands of participants. Again, these gatherings were all organised in the name of individuals instead of the churches.

Since the tragedy happened in Prince Edward Station on 31 August, loads of ‘suicide cases’ have been found, such as the death of Chan Yin-lam and Chow Tsz-Lok. We believe that they were all killed or murdered instead of committing suicide. A range of memorial activities were organised. Christianity, believing about life after death, played a role here. Apostles Media also organised a memorial event in Prince Edward Station during the Double Ninth Festival, playing tribute to the deaths. Interestingly, this religious activity was also prohibited as the police held up an orange flag (‘Disperse or we fire’) and shot tear gas.

Different denominations and pastors with different political stances have also issued different pastoral letters, joint signatures and statements, and organised meetings with pastors. Most of them are in the pro-establishment camp. Officially issued in the name of denominations and church leaders, these statements attract more attention from the outside world, which astonished most people: How can the church leaders still support the government after all the tyranny they exercised, and the police brutality that happened? According to my observations of the Christian media for years, the pastors mentioned above and believers who sang hymns at the demonstrations, Christian gatherings or memorial services, etc., only represent themselves instead of the church. Yet, those leaders, from A to Z, always support the government but never the public!

Face the facts. Most of the denominations and churches are on the side of the power, some play safe and choose not to say a word. It is rare to find those who are willing to speak up and take action. When I knew that the Christian Church of Chinese Ministry would publish the book Fighting Against the Tyranny, recording this great revolutionary history, I couldn’t agree more. I believe that this is our role in this history, and this is the direction guided by God. I immediately accepted Agni Woo’s invitation to write this foreword. The most meaningful chapter, to me, is the last chapter, From Anti-ELAB to Anti-China. The title is not without reason. This movement was once opposing the faulty law and later developed into a movement against totalitarian CCP and liberating Hong Kong. It also evokes the world to stand against China, who keeps suppressing human rights. It is the war between the bright and the dark, freedom and restraint. As a Christian, I believe that God will guide us to the best ending.

Glory shall be to Hong Kong, and may God always be with us!

Howie Yeung

Founder of Apostles Media

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1 Introduction

The summer vacation in 2019 was special and unique. It had the most brilliant and meaningful summer activity since Hong Kong became a trading port. This activity has had a profound influence on the world, even to this day. Almost all Hong Kong citizens participated in this event, making it the second largest event in that particular field in world history. What was it? Doubtlessly, it was the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement.

What led to the Movement? It all began when Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her aides and staff were finding the solution to transfer a murderer back to Taiwan for trial. Among all the other possible alternatives, they proposed the Fugitive Offenders Amendment Bill on extradition. The amendment stated that extraditions to Mainland China will be allowed, which caused worry and anxiety among the public. It is universally acknowledged that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the only ruling party in China. It has long been dominated and ruled by the CCP and judicial independence has never existed in China. In recent years, it has detained dissidents, including lawyers, in the name of the law. They abuse laws and processes arbitrarily to achieve their political goals.

CCP’s inauguration of the law can be seen through arresting rights protection lawyers indiscriminately and illegally abducting the five shareholders and shopkeepers in Causeway Bay Books in Hong Kong. Gui Minhai, the owner of Causeway Bay Books, is still in detention in Mainland China. Other than this, numerous businessmen in Hong Kong were also illegally abducted by CCP, such as Xiao Jianhua and Liu Xi-yong, who was dead on the day when she appeared in court because of receiving cruel torture before. All these cases are just the tip of the iceberg, as countless similar cases also exist. Many of those who seek asylum in Hong Kong are sought by the CCP because of their political or religious backgrounds. We all know that because of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’, the political systems in Hong Kong and China are radically different. While in China, the legislature and the judiciary never work separately. Judicial independence is constitutionally entrenched in Hong Kong Basic Law. That is why staying in Hong Kong is safer than that of China. Additionally, Chinese law enforcement authorities must not execute any cross-border law enforcement because of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and the ‘Basic Law’. Judiciary in Hong Kong and Mainland China are not interoperable.

If the bill is passed, the judicial system of China will then be applicable to Hong Kong. Not only does it mean that the Chinese law enforcement authorities can arrest people in Hong Kong as CCP wishes, it also means that the Hong Kong judicial system that we have always been proud of will be altered. The personal safety of people in Hong Kong, especially those Mainlanders who seek asylum from Hong Kong, will be highly threatened. Furthermore, there is no retrospective period stated in the bill, which means that you can be charged at any time as long as you have committed ‘crime’ in Mainland China. During the reform and opening-up, some Hong Kong people had their businesses, such as setting factories, and investments in Mainland China. Recognised around the world, business cannot be done without bribing officials in China. If the bill is passed, these businessmen can be easily charged as participating in money laundering and corruption, or even be charged as committing the offence of inciting subversion of state power.

What makes Hong Kong so valuable and unique are the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion and freedom of press. Under the ruling of CCP, China has never had any freedom of speech, religion, and press. If the bill is implemented, fear is palpable ‒ we can no longer enjoy these basic freedoms. Many of us will be charged with inciting subversion of state power, being imprisoned and tortured for our whole life. All our miserable deaths will be framed as ‘died from suicide’ or ‘died from cancer’. The above-mentioned are all that Hong Kong people are scared of, and we will never want any of these to come true. Well, everyone has lived under fear since the bill, but how about Carrie Lam? Does she know? Does she ever know?

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2 Background

Taiwan Taipei District Prosecutors Office officially wanted Chan Tong-kai, a man from Hong Kong on 18 December 18 2018, accusing him of murdering his girlfriend Poon Hiu-wing whilst on vacation in Taipei in February 2018. As there was no extradition treaty between Hong Kong and Taiwan, he could not be extradited and sent to Taiwan to stand trial. On 12 February 2019, members of Hong Kong voiced ‘strong objection’ to the bill.

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Chan Tong-kai and Poon Hiu-wing

The Fugitive Offenders Ordinance has long existed in Hong Kong, and it had evoked a member of Hong Kong Legislative Council, together with Poon’s mother, to hold a press conference. The mother demanded the Hong Kong government amend the law expeditiously in order to plug the loophole. On 13 February 2019, the Hong Kong government officially proposed to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance. Their action of removing the limitation that the extradition treaty was not applicable to Mainland China, Macau and Taiwan attracted and drew widespread attention.

The Mainland Affairs Council (Taiwan) stated on