Letters | The ‘Hong Kong Way’: how over 200,000 strangers joined hands and became fellow travellers on the road to freedom

Hong Kong protests

Letters

Published: 9:57am, 27 Aug 2019

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On August 23, 1989, 2 million people from three countries joined hands to form the “Baltic Way” to demand independence from the Soviet Union. On the same day 30 years later, in Hong Kong, over 200,000 people opposed to the government’s “extradition bill” joined hands to form a 60km-long human chain. In addition to extending along major roads, the chain scaled Lion Rock, with people using their smartphone camera lights to illuminate the mountain’s ridge.

In solidarity with Hongkongers, supporters in Lithuania also formed a chain in the country’s capital. Some carried Hong Kong flags, others Tibetan flags. People waving Chinese flags turned up and tried to disrupt the protests before the police intervened.

I would like to share my experience of the “Hong Kong Way” as a Form Four student. At 7.40pm, I walked alone to the starting point and saw that a long “dragon” had formed along the roadside railings. Standing next to me was a young office worker and then a middle school student. In a small park nearby, a projector had been set up to screen footage of the “Baltic Way” 30 years ago.

So many Hongkongers had taken time out of their daily lives to join the chain that we couldn’t see where it ended. Like citizens of the Baltic states three decades ago, Hongkongers were standing up for our freedoms. Meanwhile, on the road, vehicles continued to pass, pedestrians walked by and the traffic lights operated as usual.

When the event officially began, everyone began to shout slogans, mainly the protesters’ five demands and the slogan “liberate Hong Kong, revolution of the times”. We also sang Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies and Do You Hear the People Sing?

As we lit up our phones and held them up, some people in passing vehicles whistled support, others stuck their heads out and yelled at us. There were people rushing home who ignored us; others showed us the middle finger while walking by.

Those who formed the chain were all ordinary Hongkongers. We are not used to holding hands with strangers. However, after that night, we were no longer strangers. We had become part Hong Kong’s road to freedom.

Li Sui Lun, Hang Hau

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