TikTok was a ‘stress reliever’ for Hong Kong’s domestic helpers, but now it’s gone

Before TikTok left Hong Kong, it was a refuge among the city’s 400,000 domestic helpers during the Covid-19 pandemic

Some domestic helpers are now turning to YouTube and Facebook but fear the sites could be banned after the city’s new national security law

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TikTok halted its operations in Hong Kong in July after China imposed a new national security law on the city. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:00am, 14 Jul 2020Updated: 10:51am, 14 Jul 2020

I met Raine on Sunday afternoon. She was practising her dance moves for an online video in Hong Kong’s busy Tamar Park. Two of Raine’s friends stood by, while another recorded the video.

In the past, this video might have wound up on TikTok. The short video app remains a popular destination for goofy skits, lip-synching and dance routines. It’s become widely known for its appeal to teenagers, but TikTok also became a surprising hit among domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

“It’s easy to use, you can dance, add the text,” said Raine, who declined to give her full name. “[It’s a] stress reliever”

But TikTok is no longer available in the city. Last week, the app’s Chinese owner ByteDance removed TikTok from Hong Kong app stores and blocked users in the city from accessing the app. The move was in response to a sweeping new national security law that requires internet service providers to assist police with national security requests, even without a warrant.

Many in the city were quick to voice concerns about how the law could affect freedom of speech and privacy. Facebook, Twitter, Google and other platforms announced that they would pause cooperating with police in Hong Kong until the situation is clearer.

ByteDance didn’t say exactly how many users it had in the city before TikTok vanished from app stores last Thursday. The company said last year that it had 150,000 Hong Kong users.