LettersViolent Hong Kong protests on a loop taking a mental toll on daily commute

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Broken umbrellas and blood stains on the floor tell of the violent scuffles between police and anti-extradition protesters in a Sha Tin shopping mall on July 14. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 1:00pm, 19 Jul 2019Updated: 6:10pm, 24 Jul 2019

The now-shelved Hong Kong extradition bill has stirred deep emotions and provoked clashes over the past month. As a foreigner who knows no Chinese, my window on the situation is provided by the English-language media. Then there’s the news that is on television displays in public transport. One doesn’t have to understand the text to be disturbed by the scenes, especially when they are played on a loop.

With all the shouting and visuals of clashes, one ends up being glued to the screen. Inadvertently, this brings attention back to the crisis and stirs up negative emotions within the narrow confines of vehicles.

Experts have warned of a looming mental health crisis in Hong Kong, and surely continuous exposure to scenes of violence or negative emotions has a debilitating effect on well-being. One way to curb the negativity is to consciously increase our exposure to positive information.

During stressful times, public spaces can be used to spread a message of peace and calm – be it through relaxing music or a video that makes people laugh. While it is important to be aware of what is happening around us, we should be free to switch off for a bit, and take the time to restore calmness and health.

I am aware that this proposal may inconvenience some people. In particular, this might disrupt the business model of transport companies, that is, broadcasting news with advertisements. My sincere hope is that, even if this proposal is accepted, it will be for a very, very short time and it will not affect the transport companies that much.

Divya Padmanabhan, teaching assistant, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong