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A still from the Hong Kong Indigenous video. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Hong Kong Indigenous leader Ray Wong publishes ‘final message to Hongkongers’

Group’s convenor says it is ‘better to die with honour than survive in disgrace’

“Better to die with honour than survive in disgrace.” So says the core member of localist group Hong Kong Indigenous, which participated in the Mong Kok riot, in a “final message to Hongkongers” published on Thursday.

In pre-recorded audio published on the group’s Facebook page, convenor Ray Wong Toi-yeung lamented that his home was no longer recognisable and how those frustrations eventually led him and his allies to launch what has been described as the biggest riot in Hong Kong since 1967.

“I was born and grew up in Hong Kong – a place which I love and cherish. But as I gradually grow up, I witnessed how Hong Kong – which is supposed to belong to Hongkongers – is gradually becoming unrecognisable,” Wong said. “I can no longer distinguish whether I am on the mainland or in Hong Kong.”

READ MORE: Courtroom packed as 37 face rioting charges and are banned from entering parts of Mong Kok

After night fell on the first day of Chinese New Year, Wong was seen standing on an abandoned taxi which had its back windscreen shattered, asking protesters to rally more friends to Mong Kok.

The 22-year-old has been arrested several times before for participating in different protests. His most recent arrest was in September last year for allegedly assaulting a police officer on a footbridge near Sheung Shui MTR station in a demonstration against parallel traders.

“We know when the government ignores the people’s demands, the people must use their own way to defend their homeland.”

Wong said he had felt frustrated that his efforts in social movements against national education and the Northeastern New Territories development scheme ended in vain, until two years ago when 87 canisters of tear gas were fired at protesters in the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement.

The clash that started with a crackdown on illegal food stalls. Photo: Edward Wong

“I saw many Hongkongers were fearless even when they faced the guns and tear gas fired by police. I truly saw Hongkongers had the courage to be the boss and to rebel,” he said. “Although the Umbrella Movement has failed, it has changed my views on Hong Kong. I think Hong Kong can change.”

Wong said he subsequently formed Hong Kong Indigenous and held several protests against the parallel traders and tourists from the mainland. “We still believe in our faith ... even though our actions were criticised by the government, mainstream media and citizens who called us as thugs,” he said. “We know when the government ignores the people’s demands, the people must use their own way to defend their homeland.”

READ MORE: Localist group in Mong Kok violence unlikely to make headway in Hong Kong political arena

He saw the fruits of the anti-parallel trader actions after Shenzhen’s municipal government eventually decided not to renew expiring multiple-entry permits, which allowed unlimited visits to Hong Kong.

Wong said the action the group initiated in Mong Kok was similar to their previous efforts, as they believed changes could be brought if they insisted on their faith even when they were attacked by the government or public opinion.

“I hope all Hongkongers can carry on and believe our power could bring changes,” he said. “At last I hope to leave [a few] words for Hongkongers … ‘Better to die with honour than survive in disgrace.’”

Around noon on Thursday, Hong Kong Indigenous posted on Facebook saying lots of police officers were gathering outside Wong’s home and believed they might arrest him soon.

WATCH: Ray Wong’s “final message” to Hongkongers

【黃台仰給香港人的最後一段錄音-寧為玉碎,不作瓦全】以下為文字版:各位香港人大家好,我是本土民主前線黃台仰,未知當大家聽這段錄音的時候,我處於一個怎樣的狀況,亦不知道我將會面對何事。所以我錄了這個錄音向香港人講以下的一番說話,可能這一段會是我最後一段能夠和大家公開的說話。我是一個土生土長的年青人,我由出世、成長直到今日都是生活在香港,我愛護我珍惜這個成長的地方;但當我慢慢成長的時候,我見到這個本來屬於香港人的香港已經慢慢變得面目全非。當我站在鐵路上,我慢慢已經分不清我在大陸還是在香港。所以我走出來參與社會運動:反國教、反東北我都有參與過,但最後都是失敗告終。曾經有一段時間,我心灰意冷,我以為香港完全已經無可救藥,直到2014年9月28日-即是雨傘革命爆發當日。我看到有很多香港人,在夏慤道縱使面對防暴警察的槍支、面對催淚彈依然無所畏懼。那一刻,我真正見到香港人有當家作主的勇氣,我見到香港人有反抗的勇氣。雖然雨傘革命最後仍是失敗,但改變了我對香港的想法。我認為香港可以改變。所以我成立了本土民主前線,我們第一個行動就是光復行動。最初的光復行動亦是受盡千夫所指,亦不斷被政府、主流媒體、被市民指責我們是暴徒,被指破壞社會秩序,但我們仍然相信我們的信念,我們仍然堅持。我們知道這個政府漠視人民的訴求,人民則必須用自己的方式捍衛自己的家園,最後光復行動迫使政府取消一簽多行改為一周一行,走私水貨的問題亦減輕了許多。來到2016年2月8日,我們發起捍衛夜市的行動,我們仍然像最初成立本土民主前線一樣,我們相信只要我們堅持我們的理念就一定帶來改變。當晚發生了很多事情,可能很多示威者、抗爭者、我們的成員都會因為當日的行動而被捕。但我們希望大家回想2015年2月8日(光復屯門)之後,當日就是因為我們沒有受到社會輿論及政府打壓而卻步,我們仍然堅持發起光復行動最後才能帶來改變。2016年我們會面對更加嚴峻的問題,將會有更多的議題需求走上街頭抗爭,但我希望各位香港人仍然能夠堅持,只要相信大家的力量能夠帶來改變,香港一定能夠改變。最後希望送八字給予香港人,希望大家能夠相信及堅持:「寧為玉碎、不作瓦全。」

Posted by 本土民主前線 on Wednesday, February 10, 2016
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