English Talks: Hong Kong - an Extraordinary City under the Communist Regime in China

In July 1997 Hong Kong was handed over to the People’s Republic of China after 156 years of British rule. In the Sino-British Joint Declaration, China agreed to allow Hong Kong considerable political autonomy and freedom for the following 50 years. Despite this, Hong Kong’s freedoms have been under pressure ever since. Protests for democracy have been cracked down on, with dissenters being silenced and severely punished. What is the political situation like in Hong Kong today? What remains of the pro-democracy movement? What are the prospects for Hong Kong?

Ray Wong is the chairperson of the organisation "Freiheit für Hongkong e.V.". He is a prominent figure in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. In 2015, he founded the political group "Hong Kong Indigenous", whose slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our times" became the motto of the 2019 protests. During his time in Hong Kong, he was arrested multiple times for his activism. He fled Hong Kong in 2017 and was granted asylum in Germany the following year. This makes him the first Hong Konger to be granted asylum in Germany due to political persecution. Since then, he lives and studies in Göttingen.