The struggle for the soul of Hong Kong
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 16 August 2021
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Each Monday this August, we're looking back at some of the stories from the past year that stuck with us.
In June 2020, with the world's attention on the pandemic, Hong Kong’s freedoms were under threat as the Chinese government imposed a draconian new security law. Now, the city is experiencing its largest exodus since records began.
We revisit our interviews with two of Hong Kong's leading pro-democracy activists, and find out what they did next.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.
Guests:
- Didi Tang, Beijing correspondent, The Times.
- Emily Lau, former member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council.
- Nathan Law, pro-democracy activist.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Clips: CNBC, BBC News, Sky News, CNN, CBS.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
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Transcript
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| 0:28.8 | on Sundays online only. Every Monday, this August, we're looking back at some of the stories |
| 0:37.6 | from the past year that have really stuck with us. Today, we're going back to Hong Kong. |
| 0:51.2 | In June 2020, with a world's attention on the pandemic, the city's freedoms were under threat. |
| 0:58.2 | People fear that we're going to lose our freedoms, personal safety, the rule of law and all that, |
| 1:05.1 | and become just another Chinese city. Democracy protesters took a stand against a new Chinese |
| 1:12.6 | national security law. Boris Johnson offered a route to UK citizenship for up to 3 million people |
| 1:20.1 | from Hong Kong. People in Hong Kong, they have seen this as one victory, a small one, I have to say, |
| 1:27.1 | but nevertheless, it's a small victory. Last June, we spoke to our correspondent in Beijing |
| 1:34.1 | and to two of Hong Kong's leading pro-democracy activists. One of them has stayed on to carry on |
| 1:40.8 | the fight. Another has since fled to London. We're revisiting that episode and I'll be back at the |
| 1:48.0 | end with an update on where things stand in August 2021. You're listening to stories of our times |
| 1:55.0 | from the times in the Sunday times. I'm Manvin Rana. Today, the struggle for the soul of Hong Kong. |
| 2:05.5 | Prime Minister, on Wednesday, you sign in a agreement with China promising to deliver over 5 |
| 2:10.9 | million people into the hands of a communist dictatorship. It's 1984. The grainy video that survives |
| 2:20.3 | from that time shows a press conference with a British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, |
| 2:25.3 | sitting stiffly behind a desk, fielding questions from the press. So I was sent to cover that press |
... |
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