Road Not Taken

In the fall of 2014, one of the most significant social movements, the “Umbrella Revolution”, embarked in Hong Kong. For months, main roads and districts of Asia’s world city were occupied by students and protesters . HongKongers demanded a genuine democracy adopted in the election of Chief Executive and representatives in the Legislative Council. Yet, the 79-day movement ended in failure as the authority’s cleared the roads with brutality and ignored the public outcry.

Images of students’ strike, tear gas and guerrilla fight with police are vivid for Billy and Popsy, both students of the University of Hong Kong at the time. They were once protesters on the street; one year after, one became the president of the Student Union, and the other graduated from campus to make a living. But both still seek to contribute and defend the dignity of this very city in their own position.

As the political reform came to a rotten end, the society is yet to have a clear focus in the discussion. The development of this civil society was brought to a suffocating atmosphere. Powerless feelings are still retained as we come to the yearly July 1 demonstration. How would they see their future? How would they contribute to Hong Kong’s future as a member of this generation?