Opinion | Hong Kong’s freedoms are intact – there’s no need to be paranoid

Peter Kammerer reveals how a conversation with his son has reminded him that we are still free to speak our mind, within limits clearly set out, even in these politically charged times

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As the Basic Law promises, Hong Kong still has “freedom of speech, of the press and publication; freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration; and the right and freedom to form trade unions, and to strike”. Photo: AP

Published: 2:08pm, 5 Dec 2016Updated: 6:42pm, 5 Dec 2016

Freedom of speech means being able to openly express opinions without fear of government punishment or censorship. Article 27 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law guarantees that right. Yet, there I was the other night, having a worried chat with one of my sons after overhearing a discussion about him going to a fan meet-up with the presenter of a popular YouTube channel, China Uncensored. I’d not heard the name before, but on checking it out, I figured now was a good time to get my offspring up to date with current events.

China Uncensored promises to bring viewers “the uncensored truth about the Chinese Communist Party’s secret plan to take over the world. Just kidding. Sort of ... ” Based in New York, it claims to be a non-profit organisation funded through donations. Presenter Chris Chappell informs people about mainland events, Hong Kong and Taiwan and other issues perceived as infringing the rights of Chinese. A recent posting is an interview with Joshua Wong Chi-fung, a key participant in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Occupy movement.

Watch: China Uncensored interviews Joshua Wong

My son had been invited by an acquaintance to a get-together with Chappell and other members of his team, who were in Hong Kong as part of a trip to the region, which also included Taiwan and the Philippines. He wasn’t interested, so didn’t go. But the fact he had been asked rang alarm bells. Soon, I was sounding out his knowledge of Wong, Youngspiration and independence seekers, the Legislative Council oath-taking fiasco and the bookseller saga.

I’m not one to bring my work home with me. Current events are not much discussed around the home, although my sons occasionally raise with me news items they get from their main news source, Facebook. I’d never sounded them out on their political views, and assume that like most twentysomethings, they veer towards the left and liberalism. Such a demographic fits the profile of our young political agitators.

Watch: Lau Siu-lai take the oath in slow-motion

Watch: Hong Kong localists rush into the Legco chamber to retake their oaths

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