Delivered this short speech at the session of “Asian Network of Democracy Activists: Expanding the Milk Tea Alliance” at the Asia Democracy Research Network (ADRN) 15th Regional Workshop on 25 May 2024, which was co-organized by the Institute for Global Governance Research (GGR) at Hitotsubashi University:
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Thank you very much to ADRN for inviting us to participate in this workshop.
My involvement in the broader movement includes several areas – lawyers’ rights (through my participation with Asian Lawyers Network [ALN]), democracy (through my participation with Lady Liberty Hong Kong and indirectly through the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China [IPAC], of which I’m a board member), media (through my work with the new English media platform “The Hong Konger”) and finally business (through my collaboration with my partner to open a small business and a small cafe).
Like many Hong Kongers and other activists, we all have different roles in our activism. We should all transcend the limits of geographical locations, networks and interests.
I always believe in the participation of all ordinary people, instead of merely relying on big names and celebrities. I also believe that the Milk Tea Alliance can be stronger with more ordinary people’s participation. We have a lot of voices from political figures and the elites but we need to develop the people’s power through ordinary people too.
With Asian Lawyers Network, although we are a very small organization, we have been able to organize training programmes with Chinese lawyers and activists and invite them to come to Tokyo to meet with fellow lawyers and activists in Japan, thanks to the help and efforts of our Executive Director Prof. Tomoko Ako of the University of Tokyo. Through our researcher Cade’s work, we have also done some research on the situation of human rights lawyers in China, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the impact of the National Security Law and Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (also known as the “Article 23” legislation). We would like to explore any further collaborations, which we have already started despite very limited resources, with other Asian groups on advancing lawyers’ rights in the region. Lawyers are important players in promoting the rule of law. We believe that lawyers in the region can only become stronger if we are getting more united.
Through Lady Liberty Hong Kong, I have witnessed how the group has been using art in its activism to continue fighting for democracy in Hong Kong. Exhibitions of Hong Kong artists’ works were held in Taiwan, Japan, Europe and other places. Social media engagements are high, including people who are still in Hong Kong. We also collaborated with Japanese Diet members, Stand with Hong Kong in Japan, Asian Democracy Network, Forum-Asia and other organizations in the region to raise awareness about the human rights situation in Hong Kong. Thanks to the collaboration with these partners, Lady Liberty Hong Kong has been able to engage in a wide range of issues. We look forward to further collaboration with other organizations in the region, especially with others involved in the Milk Tea Alliance.
“The Hong Konger” is a new English media platform targeting the diaspora communities. There have already been a number of Chinese platforms in the Hong Kong diaspora communities. We observe that there is a demand for English content among many English speakers who used to live in Hong Kong. Two months into developing this new platform, we have already seen significant interest among the English-speaking communities that have links with Hong Kong and Hong Kongers one way or the other. With Hong Kong’s cultural links with many people living in the countries connected with the Milk Tea Alliance, we look forward to developing content and issues that will also connect Hong Kong and Hong Kongers with people in the countries related to the Milk Tea Alliance.
Finally, business and human rights is an area that we can explore to show support and solidarity. My partner and I are looking into fair trade of coffee beans and other agricultural products from the countries in the Milk Tea Alliance for our small business and cafe. Everyone’s small step can contribute to the wide impact of solidarity. While still new in running business, we are interested in any potential collaboration to support farmers and workers in the region.
Last but not least, I have also recently joined the Japan Hongkongers Association which has been doing various excellent community work that Anna Tanaka, who is the representative director and who is here today as well, can tell you more. The association cooperated with relief organization AAR to collect over 65 million yen of donation for the victims of the Ishikawa earthquake in January. I also recently took part in their voluntary service together with a local church group with Hongkongers in the area to provide some support to the victims. Community work, which we always overlook in terms of activism, is an integral part of strengthening networks and solidarity.
Thank you again for giving me this opportunity to share my experiences and I look forward to any potential collaboration. We become stronger together. Never underestimate any small steps and impact by ordinary people.
