This blog is authored by Frances Hui, policy and advocacy coordinator of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.
On January 6, 2021, the eyes of most Americans and much of the world were trained on events here on Capitol Hill. But on the very same day across the globe in Hong Kong, more than 50 pro-democracy activists were arrested for organising and participating in a democratic primary, a right they had been promised under Hong Kong’s Basic Law.
Most of those arrested would later come to be known as the Hong Kong 47, charged with subversion under the National Security Law and kept behind bars ever since. To me, they are friends, mentors, and leaders of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement whom I deeply admire.
The Hong Kong 47 were charged four years ago with subverting the government by organising an unofficial primary in July 2020. (BBC)
Back when they were taken into custody, I’d already left Hong Kong and was preparing to seek asylum in the U.S. Now, four years on, I look from afar at the destruction that authoritarian oppression has wrought on my city. While the Hong Kongers who managed to leave now have their freedom of speech protected by the democracies we live in, those in prison have had their voices silenced.
But who are they? Why are they behind bars? Why did the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) target them? As I grappled with survivor's guilt and sought ways to tell the story of Hong Kong, I found solace by channelling my energy into something meaningful: In 2022, I initiated the Political Prisoners Profiles project with the CFHK Foundation, documenting the stories of individuals imprisoned in Hong Kong for political reasons. It became not only a way to amplify their voices but also a personal process of reconnection and advocacy, helping me maintain a sense of purpose and solidarity with those imprisoned.
These people are not just names on a list; they are individuals with unique stories, aspirations, and sacrifices that lifted our movement. The CFHK Foundation database serves as a testament to them, bearing witness to the CCP's sweeping crackdown on the city's civil society, freedom, and rule of law. Authoritarian regimes count on the world’s indifference to rewrite history and erase dissent, which is why we are obligated not to look away – to make sure the world knows about the CCP’s criminality and the heroic sacrifices of those sent to prison merely for chasing the democracy they had been promised.
As we compiled these profiles, one fact stood out: these individuals come from all walks of life. They represent a diverse cross-section of Hong Kong society – different professions, ages, backgrounds, and social classes. Their stories highlight the breadth of the pro-democracy movement and the common values that bind us together.
While the 47 arrested democrats comes from all walks of life, they are united in their commitment to advancing freedom in Hong Kong.
Before they were detained, many of them spoke about how pivotal events galvanised their activism. To some of the movement’s more seasoned figures, like Lee Cheuk-yan (李卓人) and Chow Hang-tung (鄒幸彤), the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre was a wake-up call and a life-changing moment. Gary Fan (范國威), who was studying in San Francisco at that time, was inspired by the movement and began organising the overseas community to raise awareness on issues related to human rights in China. In 1996, he returned to Hong Kong and joined the Democratic Party.
Eddie Chu's (朱凱迪) activism was largely defined by his involvement in cultural and environmental conservation, such as leading protests against the demolition of the Star Ferry Pier (舊天星碼頭) in 2006 and the forced relocation of Choi Yuen Tsuen (菜園村) public housing estate in 2009. In 2012, Joshua Wong (黃之鋒) rose to prominence as the face of the anti-national education movement led by his Scholarism (學民思潮) organisation, which co-led the 2014 Umbrella Movement. Wong Ji-yuet (黃子悅), just 17 in 2014, joined Joshua Wong on a hunger strike. Inspired by the movement, Fergus Leung (梁晃維) and Nathan Lau (劉澤鋒), also 17 at the time, developed a strong interest in politics and later became student activists. Meanwhile, Andy Chui (徐子見), Clarisse Yeung (楊雪盈), and Henry Wong (王百羽) formed their own groups to boost civic engagement and lay the groundwork for the social movements to come.
Researching their stories prompted me to reflect on how we are all part of a continuum, each inspired by those who came before us, even unknowingly. Growing up in a free Hong Kong where demonstrations and dissent were visible, I learned how to seek government accountability, challenge norms, and advocate for change. My activism at Scholarism was enabled by spaces and possibilities paved by others. I was reminded that the ripples of collective action extend far beyond the present moment; every small act of resistance, or non-resistance, and every stand for justice contributes to a larger movement, impacting others and inspiring future generations.
While some engage as leaders, many more fight quietly, even anonymously. Among the 47, Gordon Ng (吳政亨) was a name unfamiliar even to most participants in the primary election. Having emigrated to Australia at a young age, Ng always felt like an outsider in Hong Kong. Yet, he left a well-paying job in 2016 to volunteer for ThunderGo (雷動計劃), a political campaign led by Benny Tai Yiu-ting (戴耀庭), another of the Hong Kong 47. Despite being held behind bars and denied consular access to Australian officials, Ng refused to testify for the prosecutors and was the only one to plead not guilty among five co-defendants accused of organising the primary election. In a letter posted on social media on August 22, 2022, he defiantly explained his decision:
Do I think I have committed a crime? I don't, I absolutely don't. Therefore, I have decided not to plead guilty. And for other uncertainties, as they are inescapable, I can only courageously face them. I am ready to face the largest battle of my life on the battlefield of court. I fear, but I don't retreat.
Last November, the Hong Kong 45 were sentenced to between three and 10 years in prison. As of today, there have been nearly 2,000 political prisoners in Hong Kong. Just as the Hong Kong 47 come from all walks of life—students, community leaders, professionals, journalists, social workers, businesspeople, medical workers, and musicians—so do all Hong Kong's other political prisoners. They are not faceless names; they are our friends, mentors, and fellow freedom fighters. Our Political Prisoners Profiles project is an ongoing effort to put faces to our movement, to humanise those who have been silenced, personalise their stories, and remind the world of the CCP's brutal crackdown on Hong Kong's civil liberties.
To those behind bars: We see you, we remember you, and we will continue to fight until we reunite. To those living in freedom: Let us remember the prisoners as symbols of resilience and courage while drawing strength from their determination and perseverance. Visit our Political Prisoner Profiles to learn more about Hong Kong’s political prisoners and join us in amplifying their voices and preserving their legacy.
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