Jimmy Lai risked his life for Hong Kong’s freedom, and on Oct. 5, College Republicans, the Alexander Hamilton Society, and the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship showed a documentary about the entrepreneur and journalist.
Lai, the founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, organized protests in Hong Kong in 2021 against the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. His involvement in these protests led to his arrest. He currently awaits his date of release. Apple Daily’s final print was on June 24, 2021.
“Hong Konger” showed Lai’s life through interviews and testimonials from friends and activists, while emphasizing the spiritual aspect of his effort to fight for freedom.
Edward Chin, a former columnist at Apple Daily, gave a short talk after the documentary.
“Lai built his business during the British colonial days when there were free markets,” Chin said. “There was freedom, but there was no real democracy because people in Hong Kong still could not choose who the next governor of Hong Kong would be.”
Chin said his faith is very important to his mission of fighting for freedom in Hong Kong.
“I believe that it is also a very spiritual war,” Chin said. “You need faith so strong that it can move mountains against tyranny. As the saying goes: ‘you do your best; God will do the rest.’”
According to Chin, China used the COVID-19 pandemic to make people download a health app that tracks their movements and location. The app tracks the number of people in a given location. If more than four people are outside at a public gathering, the government takes note of it as a possible demonstration. This app is still being used in Hong Kong, Chin said.
People are no longer free to criticize the government after the national security law was passed, he said.
Chin said he encourages Americans to watch “Hong Konger” to understand the problems people in Hong Kong face.
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong sponsored the screening and talk. The CFHK is an organization that seeks to spread awareness about the current political prisoners in Hong Kong.
“The national security law resulted in the jailing of many pro-freedom, pro-democracy advocates. CFHK is pushing for the release of these political prisoners who are currently being held in Hong Kong,” said Olivia Enos, CFHK’s Washington, D.C. director.
Senior Conner Bolanos said he gained an appreciation for the fight for freedom in Hong Kong.
“I think one of the big takeaways is probably that it’s still an ongoing issue,” Bolanos said. “There tends to be a narrative where things happen and it’s a super big deal, and then it falls out.”
Enos said since freedom in Hong Kong disappeared so quickly, Americans should be thankful for what they have.
“That should call upon students to cherish and safeguard the freedoms we have here in the U.S.,” Enos said.
