A centerpiece of the pro-democracy movements that have rocked Hong Kong’s last decade, Nathan Law, 28, is not optimistic about the city’s future. The next five years should be one of more repression, says the political activist in an interview with Sheet.
Youngest deputy to be elected in the country, in 2016, impeached and arrested the following year, Law says that the repression in Hong Kong sends a clear message to other regions in conflict with mainland China, such as Taiwan: that in a short time a free territory can have its autonomy shattered, as happened after the National Security Act, which stifled political dissent.
Considered a fugitive in his hometown and exiled to London, he claims political activism in Hong Kong has changed with current limitations on freedom of expression, but he hasn’t died.
Hong Kong completes 25 years back to Chinese rule this week. The most recent years were of repression of pro-democracy movements. What do you think the next 25 years will be like? Twenty-five years is a very long time. First, in the near future, John Lee will be the new Chief Executive. He was from the police and led the campaign to repress popular protests. I believe he will be a very draconian leader, and we will not see Hong Kong show any signs of improvement for now. I imagine the next five years will be very cruel.
But further on, I believe that the Chinese system is not sustainable. I don’t believe totalitarianism will last forever. There is a big domestic economic problem, a demographic problem [a população chinesa está envelhecendo], they are struggling to gain support at the international level. I do not believe that in the long term the regime will remain intact. They will have to face crises, and when there are crises, there can be changes. It may be for better or for worse, but there will be change.
Since the beginning of the Ukrainian War, attention has focused on the possibility of a conflict involving Taiwan. What messages does Beijing’s performance in Hong Kong send to Taiwanese? The message is very clear. The “one country, two systems” policy [sob a qual a China respeitaria as liberdades locais de Hong Kong por 50 anos, até 2047], it’s a lie. If you are ruled by the Chinese communist regime, you will not have respected their way of life, democracy and human rights. I believe the lesson is clear, people know this and that’s why they are afraid of the so-called “reunification” with China.
The case of Hong Kong is very iconic, it shows how a free city like Hong Kong can degrade to an authoritarian state in a period of less than two years. [desde a aprovação da Lei de Segurança Nacional]. Our civil society, with decades of foundation, has been demolished.
Are there connections between activist groups in Hong Kong and other groups opposed to Beijing’s rule, such as Taiwanese, Tibetans and Uighurs? There are activities that we organize together. For example, we have carried out a massive campaign to boycott the Winter Olympics in recent months, with Uighurs, Tibetans, Taiwanese and Hong Kongers, always with the aim of increasing international awareness of human rights abuses in China.
What are your aspirations? Do you want Hong Kong to be an independent city? Or that it is part of a democratic China? For me, first and foremost, I want Hong Kong to be free and democratic. But I believe the future is very dynamic. This could happen with a free and democratic China, or it could be with them respecting our will to reform. I cannot predict how the story will evolve.
How do you assess the international pressure against China, which has hardened in recent years? We have seen signs that the West is competing with China on many different levels. For example, the G7 has just released a plan to compete with the New Silk Road. We have seen Europe and the US taking steps to reduce dependence on China. These are important points to reduce Chinese influence and ensure that totalitarianism will not benefit from the opening of democratic societies.
Today you work mainly abroad. Is international pressure enough? Many components must work together. Resistance movements in the field, international pressure and keeping the focus on Hong Kong. I believe there is no single way. Different people must occupy different roles. For example, I can’t organize protests because it’s too dangerous for everyone, so that responsibility needs to be taken on by other people.
Is there political activism operating underground? Or were pro-democracy movements effectively neutralized in Hong Kong? I believe that the protests we saw in 2019, for example, will no longer happen, at least not in the near future. But democratic activism has changed, today it focuses more on supporting political prisoners and less on public speaking their political positions, because at this point people prefer to be safe. I believe there are still certain political groups that want to do something, but definitely not as loud as they used to be.
andYou is considered a fugitive by the Hong Kong police. How is your relationship with the city today, beyond political activism? Do you keep in touch with your family and are you thinking about returning? Hong Kong is where I want to be buried. But it’s definitely hard to go back now, I could spend decades in prison. But I tend to believe I’ll be able to get back in some time, probably a long time.
My whole family is still there, but when I left Hong Kong, I publicly announced that I would cut ties with them, to protect them, and I haven’t had contact since. But I believe they are fine, as far as I know they are not harassed or targeted by the government. I’m glad for that.
x-ray | Nathan Law, 28
He was one of the leaders of the Umbrella Movement, which took to the streets of the city for weeks in pro-democracy protests in 2014. He was elected in 2016 the youngest deputy in the Chinese administrative region, until his mandate was revoked and he was arrested in the year Following. In 2020, following the enactment of the National Security Act, he left Hong Kong, where he is considered a fugitive, and went into exile in London.
