The first 612 Rally in Wales 200 Hongkongers stand together to fight for freedom!

“Now, Hong Kong people are to run Hong Kong. That is the promise. And that is the unshakeable destiny.”, said by Lord Patten, the last Hong Kong Governor, in the Hong Kong Handover Ceremony Address. Almost 25 years have passed, his voice is still lingering in the air, yet the reality has been reshaped for uncountable times, including the destiny of a group of Hongkongers. They gather at Senedd on 12th June, commemorating the 3rd anniversary of the world known “Anti-extradition Law Movement ”.

2019 is one of the most historical years of Hong Kong. Hong Kong communist regime broke the promise of “one country two system”, indiscriminate brutality of Hong Kong police force, sacrifice and resistance of Hongkongers and support from freedom defenders all over the world, which are not only some memories that left in the history, but also the humanitarian crisis that are still ongoing, just as to the genocide of Uyghur and invasion of Ukraine.

Under the Joint declaration of UK and China and the agreement of unchanging “one country two system” for 50 years, Hong Kong has her own jurisdiction. However, the Hong Kong regime tried to enact an “Extradition Law Amendment Bill ” which allows suspects to be sent over China, from the judicial system of common law to continental law, for prosecution and imprisonment.

On 9 June, over 1 million Hongkongers protested on the street to speak for their demand of withdrawing the bill. Yet, at 11pm the same day, the regime announced that the 2nd reading of the bill would be processed as scheduled; On 12 June, midnight, over ten thousand civilians gathered outside the Legislative Council demanding the withdrawal of the bill, and at least 30 thousand more to come in the later of the day. At 3 pm the same day, instead of taking steps to respond to her citizens, the regime hid at the back of the force and the HK police started to disperse civilians with tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bag rounds. The regime then declared the civilians as “riot” that night; On 16 June, over 2 million civilians marched on the street again, from day to night, and it took over 8 hours for all the protesters to arrive at their destination. Still, none of the demand was answered.

Since then, Hongkongers started their journey to fight for freedom with countless protest, resistance and even their most precious lives. Unfortunately, the Communist China responded by violating the joint declaration and further restriction. By enacting and implementing the “HK National Security Law ” on 30 June 2020 which has no consent from Hongkongers and HK legislative council, China was empowered to set up “HK National Security department” in HK and override HK law directly. These forces can investigate, put charges and extradition suspects secretly back to China without any supervision, freeze the bank account without a court order and sentence a maximum to lifetime.

Within 2 years, over 170 people were being arrested. Until today, most of them are not allowed to bail and are still being imprisoned without a trial. Even though there was a trial, no jury is allowed according to National Security Law. A man, who violated traffic regulations as driving with a banner stating, “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times”, was being sentenced to 9 years under the charge of “inciting subversion of state power” and “terrorist activities”; Apple Daily, the last physical pro-democracy newspaper, was stormed by police force. Its senior executives were being arrested, and the last news was issued on 24th June last year. The suppression of freedom of speech and publication, along with the unfair juridical system and all kinds of restrictions, spark not only concern but fear among HKers. Driving them fleeing from Hong Kong to all over the world and seeking liberty and freedom, including Cardiff, Wales.

The BN(O) visa programme was launched in Spring 2021, providing a new pathway for HKers who hold BN(O) status to settle in the U.K. Hkers have to pay £250 for visa fee and £3,120 for 5 years of NHS services, without accessing public funds, before they apply for citizenship after their 6th year of settlement in the U.K.. The rally at Senedd is organised by a few HKers who settle in Wales now through the BN(O) visa. They also hold a Facebook group call “HKers yng Nghymru”, which aims to gather most of the HKers in Wales, resolve discord by conscience and build a HKers community. They share information of living in Wales, helping new migrants and asylum seekers from HK. They also cooperate closely with Wales Strategic Migration Partnership (WSMP) and aid all HKers for joining the local community and culture.

Through the rally of 3rd anniversary of 612, they gather HKers again and rewind the scene, grieve over martyrs, pray for the imprisoned, and thinking about what they can do to regain Hong Kong. They also translated the most representative song in the movement, “Glory to HK”, into Welsh, to show their respect and termination of joining the community. Wales TUC General Secretary Shavanah Taj gave a solidarity powerful speech which about the idea of diversity in Wales and Welsh people are always standing with Hong Kong people for fighting democracy and freedom. With the slogan that was first seen in 2019: ‘Fight for freedom, Stand with Hong Kong’, they concluded the rally in “Lest we forge