Freedom: How we lose it and how we fight back

by Evan Fowler

'Nathan Law's agonising account of China's ruthless takeover of Hong Kong provides a terrible insight into Beijing's ambitions - the world needs to read this.' - Jon Snow' In Freedom , Nathan Law paints a deeply personal portrait of sheer courage... An essential and timely read.' - Speaker Nancy PelosiWhat does it mean to be truly free? And can any of us be free until all of us are?Nobel Peace Prize nominee Nathan Law has experienced first-hand the shocking speed with which our freedom can be taken away from us, as an elected politician arrested simply for speaking his mind.He remembers what it is like to lack freedom - and his father's precarious three-day escape from China in a small rowing boat.When authoritarianism makes gains around the world, demanding our silence as the price of doing business, it poses a challenge to democracy everywhere.In this passionate rallying cry, Law argues that we must defend our freedom now or face losing it for ever.'Now we all need to stand firm to defend our freedoms, to ensure truth is not determined by dictators. We are born free and as equals. As long as we believe in that, no one can take it away from us.'

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, China, Society, History, Political Science, Biography

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Rob Hocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by one of the major figures in the Hong Kong protests - the first was "Unfree Speech" by Joshua Wong. Joshua Wong has been in jail since December 2020 and it is unclear when he will get out, as Beijing keeps finding reasons to increase his prison sentence: https://www.bloombergquint.com/politi.... Unlike Joshua, Nathan fled Hong Kong in the summer of 2020, knowing that if he remained in Hong Kong after the National Security Law went into effect, he would likely be arrested. He was granted asylum in the UK where he now lives in exile. Chinese state media confirm that there is an arrest warrant for Nathan, and accuse the UK government of interfering in China's internal affairs by granting him asylum.

It's interesting to read a few of these books just to get a feel for who the main players were in the protests and what it was like to take part in them. I enjoyed Nathan's book more than Joshua's - to me he seems like a better writer and the book seems more thoughtful and intelligent. He doesn't simply chronicle his experience of watching Hong Kong slip into authoritarianism, he goes further and puts in the context of the rise of authoritarianism globally, as well as the global consequences of China's actions. He backs up his statements with references to learn more, should you feel so inclined.

I enjoyed Nathan's book and hope that next time I am in the UK I can somehow track him down and chat with him about his experiences and perspectives.

[Victoria Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love letter to the Hong Kong he remembers and the Hong Kong he knows that can be, Nathan writes a compelling and timely text on the case of Hong Kong and what it means for freedom as we know it around the world. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to better understand the risks against freedom among a world seeing a rise in authoritarianism. Nathan's emotional, thought-provoking book provides his own personal encounters and meditations on freedom. Moreover, Freedom compels the reader to value and uphold freedoms as the book explores the different ways freedom continues to erode in Hong Kong.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an AMAZING book!

I was blown away by Law's writing.
Nathan is such an outspoken and brave author.

I read this book as I wanted to learn more about Hong Kong. I came away with an outstanding activist read which was touching, poignant, eye-opening, shocking, and all-in-all impressive.

I would highly recommend this for fans of open society and to learn more about Hong Kong.

I really appreciated reading about what it is like in other cultures. Something different, and interesting that we can take for granted in Western society.

I will keep you in my prayers.

Best activist book I've read in years.

5.0/5

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful eyewitness account from one of Hong Kong's brightest minds. Enjoyed it along with Joshua Wong's "Unfree Speech", Stephen Vines "Defying the Dragon", and Antony Dapiran's "City on Fire." The films "Do Not Split", "Cockroach", and "Lost in the Fumes" illustrate the push for democracy in the region from 2016-2019.

[Sébastien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freedom: How we lose it and how we fight back is written by Nathan Law, one of the student leaders in Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement 2014. The book chronicled how he became an activist and his experiences as a politician as well as the threats of authoritarian acts towards HK and countries across the world by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The book is more than Nathan’s involvement in educational and political reforms. It is about Hong Kong’s continuous fight against CCP. After the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, the political landscape has been changed significantly. Several pro-Beijing groups rooting in HK and taking the important seats. Years later, there were multiple violations of human rights done by HK government directed by CCP. HK’s political system got worsen and Hongkongners’ right for freedom is worryingly deteriorating.

In his book, Nathan emphasised more on the significance of freedom and how we should preserve it before it’s too late. And when it is endangered, why we must voice out and how we should fight for our freedom. He pointed out the rise of totalitarian governments in other countries and the threatening consequences encountered by nations across the globe. He discussed about the importance of rule of law and also to be aware of disinformation and division. He highlighted to believe in people and the power of change so that people can continue the resistance. CCP has fabricated lies that Nathan been funded or trained by the western countries. Leaving Hong Kong for safety isn’t betrayal. Activism works in various forms and regardless of your geographical location, what matters is to continue fighting for the cause you believe in. Works can be done more efficiently in safe and free environment.

This is the third book I read about Hong Kong Protests. Last year, I read Unfree Speech by Joshua Wong, Nathan’s fellow activist and City on Fire by Antony Dapiran. Both books talked about the history of Hong Kong and its unhealthy relationship with CCP and how the protests began. Nathan wrote this book with his friend Evan Fowler, also a Hong Kong native. Since it is about the same events in HK, some similarities can be found in all three books. Regardless, it is an important read as it helps you understand not just about Hong Kong and its sociopolitical issues, also about the rise of authoritarianism and its global threat. Equally, it is insightful and encouraging, as well. Their detailed and personal stories are heart-rending and at the same time, empowering.
_____
Nathan Law was born into a working-class family who were initially from Shenzhen, China. When he was six years old, the family moved to HK where his father worked. He was a moderate student at school and not very involved in politics since the family was apolitical. When he was in secondary school, he learnt about the 1989. Tiananmen Square Massacre. Attending the annual vigil to commemorate the event was his first peaceful resistance. In his university, he joined Student Unions and later became committee member of Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKSF).

Nathan actively involved in 2014 Umbrella Movement and became one of the prominent student leaders fighting for HK’s electoral reform against Beijing Government. In 2016, he and other student leaders founded a new political party Demosistō. At the age of 23, he became the youngest-ever elected person to become a HK legislator. However, he and three other pro-democracy legislators were disqualified from the Legislative Council due to oath taking controversy,. In 2017, Nathan was jailed for his involvement in occupying Civic Square during 2014 protest. Upon his release, he tirelessly fought for the rights and safety for people of HK. When the new security law enacted by Beijing in mid 2020 threatened his life and his party leaders, he fled HK. In April 2021 he announced that he has been granted asylum in the UK. He continued to voice for Hong Kong and the future of Hongkongners.

[Winnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathan Law has provided detailed and credible stories of the democratic movement in Hong Kong, of the continued crackdowns that the civil society has faced, as well as of the rights stripled of the Hongkongers since Beijing gradually eroded the autonomy of Hong Kong after the '97 turnover. His personal stories of becoming an exiled activist are moving and inspiring, and his important message to the free world of staying vigilant to the threats posed by authoritarian expansion and regimes is a much needed reminder to the free world now. There're so many inspiring thoughts and so much valuable advice he has shared in this book that I can't recommend enough.

[Percy Yue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply appreciated the dedication and commitment that Nathan and his friends, including but not limited to Joshua Wong, Agnes Chau. Alex Chow and Lester Shum, displayed in both the 2014 Umbrella Movement and the 2019 Movement respectively. They had woken up a lot of Hong Kong people and made the World aware of the evilness of one nation. Unlike Nathan, it is not possible for me not to hate one country and to use love/patience to embrace it and its people. Since 2019, my motto has been "never forgive and forget". This will definitely be passed onto my offsprings as family legacy.

[c · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’ll review this book on what it set out to do: provide a primer on democratic values/freedom within the hk context and a warning to the “free” world. this isn’t intended for hong kongers who were involved/kept up with political events (there’ll be another book coming out for us <3), but i still had so many takeaways from this, mainly the role of student unions during occupy and nathan’s love for home that keeps his activism sustainable.

the best thing about this book is that it makes ~ freedom ~ a less elusive concept and the whole china question more approachable. it is a great piece of rhetoric; there are many nuances that are very well articulated i.e. a lot of important ground that isn’t covered in mainstream journalism, and something poli/phil academia still struggles a lot with. i think the final chapter deserves its own shout out (i’d rate it a 5/5) because it is a passionate, genuine, and grounded call for action. after a bleak chapter on disinformation and truth in authoritarian regimes, the final chapter cuts straight to the chase on the urgency of the china question, exposes the CCP’s sinister subversion of democratic lingo, gives us reasons to be hopeful for the future (despite the massive shit we’re in rn) and steps we can take to regain control of our civil liberties, wherever we are in the world.

this is not an academic text, so i don’t want to hold it to the same standards. however, the romanisation and footnotes in particular are inconsistent — what deserves a footnote, and will this affect the integrity of the book as facts get lost/muddled over time? who decides what words/expressions are romanised in pinyin with tones, pinyin without tones, and when are characters accompanied by trad/simplified chinese? i also think that the book tries to give too much context, yet fails to give enough; i find his account overly sympathetic to the role of the colonial administration during the pre-1997 era (e.g. they were ‘different’ to other colonial admins + really tried to give hkers the democratic freedoms they wanted after 1997, but were just unable to negotiate a good deal. it was the hkers who should have rallied harder for better negotiations, but 1c2s is what it is).

i wonder how this book will stand the test of time; will it be banned? where? will people dispute nathan’s version of events? how will collective memory of the last three years look like, among those who stayed and among the diaspora? how will the hong kong identity evolve under authoritarian rule? the fact that this book is likely to resonate a lot young hkers, but is not promoted even by the most openly pro-democracy indie booksellers (for reasons we know and understand) is especially troubling. anyway. a lot of thoughts still thinking gayau nathan <3

[Anne Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

220 pages d'un livre très dense et bourré de questions, de réponses personnelles sensées et argumentées sur la liberté, l'état de droit, ce que subissent ceux qui en perdent brutalement la protection et ce que signifie être un activiste. Il mérite plusieurs lectures tant il interroge et livre des réflexions qui résonnent avec beaucoup de justesse, de clarté et de profondeur. C'est la pensée d'un jeune homme que l'histoire de sa ville et des circonstances banales ont poussé à s'investir pour devenir le porte-voix d'abord d'étudiants, puis des citoyens de Hong Kong. Si le livre est parsemé d'informations sur la vie de Nathan Law, qui n'a, rappelons-le, pas encore 30 ans, elles ne constituent pas une autobiographie mais plutôt une mise en lumière du contexte dans lequel ont grandi beaucoup de sa génération : immigrée de Chine populaire, des classes sociales modestes loin du Hong Kong paillettes symbolisant le miracle du 3e centre financier mondial. Une génération dont la volonté de survie des parents et de s'élever par le travail, l'espoir que la génération suivante fera encore mieux, est aussi le vecteur des valeurs familiales fortes et d'attentes. Mais elle est aussi celle qui s'est nourrie de la liberté (même relative) que la ville offrait à leurs parents qui s'y sont réfugiés et pour laquelle ils ont bravé tous les dangers. Consciente de la force de sa différence, elle est aussi tiraillée entre le devoir de fidélité aux souhaits familiaux et la nécessité de s'investir, voire de se sacrifier comme beaucoup l'ont fait en restant à Hong Kong après les manifestations de 2019, pour protéger ce trésor qu'est l'expérience de la vie dans une société respectant la liberté de la presse et l'indépendance de la justice. Ce qui faisait de Hong Kong une ville dotée d'un pouvoir d'attraction immense, combinant le potentiel de la Chine à l'ouverture de l'Occident. Aujourd'hui considérablement abimé, voire irrémédiablement.

C'est un livre dont on ne saurait taire l'utilité dans un Occident en proie à la tentation de l'autoritarisme et ses méthodes fortes, fragilisant nos institutions et nos droits, et des effets dévastateurs d'une logique consumériste à l'œuvre en politique en Occident : comme si l'on était au supermarché et qu'OMO ne lavant finalement pas plus blanc, on décidait de balancer de l'acide chlorhydrique dans la machine, sans penser plus avant que cela la détruira définitivement. C'est aussi le livre qui nous met en garde en démontrant que, loin de se produire dans un territoire qui ne nous ressemble en rien, le drame des Hongkongais nous est terriblement proche et que nous avons un rôle crucial à jouer pour prévenir la contagion, la subversion de la démocratie que la Chine communiste entend nous faire subir avec son influence multiforme, parfois quasi-invisible au grand public mais puissante et que le danger est là, immense et faisant déjà œuvre certaine.

Pour ceux qui s'interrogeraient sur quel livre lire entre Freedom de Nathan Law et La Parole Enchaînée de Joshua Wong : lisez les 2 parce que s'ils sont traversés d'idées communes (les 2 étant activistes au sein du même parti aujourd'hui dissous, Demosisto), ils ne sont pas du tout identiques. Le livre de J. Wong a un caractère autobiographique plus prononcé mais il est une démonstration éclatante de ce que l'on peut accomplir à un jeune âge et comprend une partie sur la vie en prison à Hong Kong, débouchant sur un début de réflexion sur les inégalités sociales. Ils me sont apparus bien complémentaires car la réflexion de N. Law va plus loin en théorie mais aussi en analyse de l'intervention de Pékin à HK, ses conséquences profondes et ses ramifications internationales menaçantes.

Professeurs de lycée : l'étude de ce livre mériterait d'être au programme en histoire géographie et en éducation citoyenne. La proximité générationnelle entre vos élèves, N. Law et ces jeunes qui ont voulu coûte que coûte défendre leur identité et leur liberté face à la Chine totalitaire ne durera pas, mais la valeur des réflexions contenues dans cet ouvrage sur les fondements de nos valeurs, de la démocratie et des raisons de nous battre pour elles méritent que nos jeunes en soient pénétrés et qu'ils s'en inspirent.

[Cole Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Freedom” by Nathan Law is a philosophical account of Beijing and Hong Kong. Democratically elected and removed from office, Nathan has a unique perspective about the loss of rights in his home country. Unfortunately, this book poorly covers the subject. More so a collection of speeches, “Freedom” feels like an unfocused work that fails to capture the nature of its daunting subject. This, alongside poor sourcing and almost no format, makes for a disappointing read.

I really wanted to like this book, but I was immediately put off by the writing style. These chapters are more akin to essays, or if I’m being honest, online political screeds. Nathan makes huge, generalizing statements and rarely backs them up. This inflammatory style is not helpful for learning anything; it’s a direct barrier to understanding precisely what happened between China and Hong Kong.

The sources that are used (rarely) are barely worth consideration. Nathan cites headline after headline, but does little to talk about the actual articles or those articles’ author. Disappointingly, he cites many news corporations that I have literally no faith in - such as the National Review, which could hardly be considered well researched journalism. Another example is Nathan’s veneration of BBC, which is used multiple times as a source (but again, never actually using the article text or the author). This is ridiculous for any kind of academic argument, I can find many headlines from the BBC that directly violate Nathan’s claims. I would consider this high school level research, frankly.

Worst of all, I don’t even think Nathan’s points are wrong. Mostly, I find his analysis painfully surface level and without real discussion about agents and actors. 9 times out of 10, Nathan says “Beijing” did something. “Beijing couldn’t allow this” or “Beijing soon stopped the publication.” Who in Beijing? Or what document stopped the publication? Was it an announcement? The combination between poor sourcing and sweeping generalities makes this book feel like a conspiracy theorist.

The few times that Nathan talked about his personal experience or named the causative agent, such as Carrie Lam, were educational and beneficial to my understanding. Unfortunately, I found these moments to be sparse. Generally, I was very disappointed about the information available in this book.

Unfortunately, I didn’t care for Nathan’s prose either. I found it halting. His passages towards his own family were powerful, but that was simply few among many. Painfully, within his chapters he flies from one topic to the next, often repeating himself from previous chapters multiple times. Frankly, I came from this book feeling like Nathan didn’t really have much to say past veneration for his vague conception of “freedom”.

Each chapter does a good job at mostly staying on topic, but there’s absolutely no through line from one chapter to the next. One could randomly rearrange each chapter and the book would be exactly the same; there is literally no structure or even a narrative.

Finally, who the Hell is Evan Fowler? This whole book is supposedly about Nathan, but we don’t even know who wrote what. Evan’s name doesn’t even show up until 40 pages from the end, and strangely, his purpose or backstory is barely explained. For a book so tied to its author, Evan’s presence is incredibly odd and never explained at all.

Nathan’s few moments of first hand accounts cannot save this mess. The chapters on their own are fine, but do not make up a cohesive book. The analysis is surface level at best, absolutely impenetrable and hearsay at worst. Oftentimes, Nathan’s viewpoints are well meaning but incredibly repetitive and poorly sourced. All in all, I was disappointed by this book. 1.75/5, would only recommend if you are a Nathan Law fan.

Side note: Why does Nathan Law keep pointing out his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize? Almost anyone can be nominated, like Trump. He didn’t even win! This is me being petty.

[Roxane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give five stars to this book, not for its transcendent prose, the depth of explored philosophical concepts, or the originality of its story, which are not necessarily its most prominent aspects. Nathan Law, an activist elected to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, enamored with freedoms that some disdain and take for granted, and above all, in love with his homeland, has managed to decipher how the Chinese Communist Party imposes an alternative reality to serve its perpetuation and expansion. He has conveyed what the constant struggle against this overwhelming political authority meant for the people of Hong Kong. By using (and perhaps overusing) the vocabulary of democracy, I believe he has found the words to persuade readers worldwide of the importance and universality of this cause. Courage to Hong Kong and to all victims of Chinese dictatorship.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

My purchase of this book was impromptu — it was right after my relative made an apathetic comment on how Hongkongers, especially those living abroad, do not deserve democracy because “not enough blood has been shed.” Nathan Law was the first person who came into my mind after this comment.

Just as Nathan himself has pointed out in the intro, this book is a personal account more than an academic one. Nonetheless, he cited several facts to help readers understand how freedom is growing more precarious under the ccp’s authoritarian rule.

Reading this book a year after Joshua Wong’s “Unfree Speech,” I am deeply moved by both activists’ honest documentation of their journey. This book especially reads like Nathan’s journal on his political “coming-of-age”; from an activist to the youngest elected legislator, he only grew more humble and reflective. In this age where anyone can “become an activist” online (with which I have to respectfully disagree), Nathan served as a refreshing reminder how “we never decided to become dissidents” (Havel) unless the circumstances forced us to.

Fleeing Hong Kong was a choice, said Nathan, but a difficult and heartbreaking one to make for sure. Through his words, you can truly feel Nathan’s love for his home and community — that is something one could never fake. I found myself tearing up quite a few times while reading it. A great read for everyone, especially those who are not yet convinced that democracies around the globe are at stake.

Last but not least, for the activists fighting out there, be water.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO POWERful. Depressing as heck, but SO IMPORTANT for ALL to read. Not just to shine light on China (and please note, I am talking about the Chinese Communist Party, NOT the country, culture or people, BIG difference) and all of the human rights violations that are happening there, but also showing step by step how the rights of the people are so quickly, quietly and EFFORTLESSLY systematically stripped from them by those in power.

It's TERRIFYING. What this brave man has gone through and is going through, is heartbreaking and scary. I wish him and all who are living in places that aren't free to one day be able to feel freedom and to live it.

I'm not going to go into the nitty gritty of the book, other than to say, if you are anti-slavery, then you should be anti-Chinese Communist Party. The human rights violation they commit are atrocious and shouldn't be funded by us buying things that say "Made in China".

Again, I am NOT anti-China. The culture, the people, the country are all beautiful and have SO MUCH to teach the rest of the world. But the government in charge? Not so much. (I'm also not thrilled with my country's leaders, so I am not throwing stones at others, we need to step it up too. We could and should be doing better.)

This book is incredibly powerful and scary. I had to put it down a lot after only reading a few pages at a time. It is depressing, but necessary to open our eyes to what is going on around us in our home and in the homes of others. Not to be nosy or to be "saviors", but to learn and help if we can without acting like we are doing a favor or we are better than those we assist.

I haven't been able to stop talking about this book to my friends and family and at the store. 100% recommend to everyone. 5, super scary and the author is incredibly brave for writing this, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and The Experiment for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Ged · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of Freedom as a gift, so I tried to come at the book with an open mind. I wrestled with a number of things reading book, which will come out a bit later on.

Is Freedom any good?

Early on this was a question that I was asking myself. Freedom clearly wasn't a book with someone like me in mind. I have read a number of the China and Hong Kong books out there, kept up with the latest thinking and for a time lived in the city.

I could see that the book might be written for others as a primer. It is a swift tour through Mr Law's own story, the resurgent nature of China across as an authoritarian state. China's power projection beyond its borders and the nature of authoritarianism in general. He also tells the story from his perspective of the Hong Kong protests.

The reality is that in this ambition for Freedom, Law and Fowler have squeezed the territory of at least half a dozen books into one slim paperback.

Mr Law's own story

Mr Law's own story mirrors that of previous generations of Hong Kongers. His father escaped from the mainland and brought his wife and son across. The honesty of Mr Law's story comes through through the his few memories of life before Hong Kong. His concern about China at this time is more from the life of his parents. He only really remembers the sun on his back and hugging his Mum on her bicycle. He relies on the struggle of his parents in China, during and after the cultural revolution.

Hong Kong like Shenzhen is a city of immigrants. Chinese people from Guangdong, Fujian and Shanghai have moved to the city over the decades in waves.

Two other aspects of Law's story struck me. The first was the honesty with which he talked about not wanting to engage with the 2019 protests at first as he was going to Yale on a full scholarship.
The second was the way he talked about the horror of a custodial sentence. I have no desire to go to jail, but about a third of the UK population has a criminal record. It isn't quite the 'mark of Cain' that it seems to be in Hong Kong. That says a lot about the kind of society that Hong Kong is.

The nature of China

I think other people have done a better job of talking about the nature of the Chinese government, in particular its approach to governance and foreign policy. Mr Law just can't cover the ground needed in Freedom, he doesn't have the space.

The Hong Kong protests

The main thing that struck me about Mr Law's account of the Hong Kong protests is a sense of restraint in the telling. He pulls his punches and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions, or do their own research. This is especially apparent with Mr Law's description of the Yuen Long incident.

If you want the general gist of the Yuen Long incident, there was a good documentary that the Hong Kong government clamped down on called 7.21 Who Owns the Truth? produced by Yuk-Ling 'Bao' Choy

Tone of voice

I was trying to put my finger on the tone of voice in Freedom. What did it remind me of? Eventually I realised that it reminded me of the kind of content I had read previously by the likes of think tanks like Demos during the New Labour era. So far the Hong Kong protestors have managed to engage and activate right of centre politicians across Europe, the US and the UK. But more progressive voices aren't engaging with the situation in Hong Kong. I took this book as an attempt to reach out to the wonks in this camp. Activists like Mr Law would need to create receptivity in the the people who work for progressive politicians before they can engage with the politicians themselves.

Hence the primer approach, so that these people would delve further into China.

[carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

marking this as read because it’s been rotting in my current reads and, as presumptuous as this sounds, i think i’ve understood the gist of what he’s trying to say.

the situation in hong kong is one that continues to fascinate me not only because of my family’s long standing relations with hong kong but also because of how goddamn interesting it is. there aren’t many places in the world that fuse two incredibly distinct cultures, but hong kong is living proof that the fusion of cultures works. under the control of the british empire, hong kong managed to solidify itself as one of the four financial capitals of the world, earning the attention of businesses and investors worldwide.

apart from the nation’s economic impact and subsequent implications to asia, the elements of british culture that manifest in hong kong society are also so so engrossing. at the peak of my sinosphere phase, i watched a lot of videos on hong kong culture, and how it was not able to be diminished despite the return of hong kong to the chinese government. unfortunately for the ccp, the turnover of hong kong did not result in the erasure of british influence; no matter what they do, that much will always be permanently ingrained in hong kong society. what they can do, however, is reform curriculums, emphasize the values and teachings of the chinese, engage in morally reprehensible human rights violations—wait, what?

that is where the book comes in. i chose this read because of nathan law’s unique status as a leading hong kong activist. he was a household name for me at the age of 12, when my younger self pored over articles on the hong kong protests every single day. british culture strikingly contrasts chinese culture for many reasons, but the most relevant would probably be its emphasis on liberty and free thought. china, on the other hand, regards these two concepts as practically non-existent, valuing instead their traditional heritage and an unquestioned obedience to their central authority—the chinese communist party.

though it’s been some time since i read this book, i recall that it explored the development of the hong kong people’s sentiments against the chinese government. how long before the turnover, many hong kong citizens already migrated to other countries, fearing the vision that the chinese would impose on them. as much as china insists that they respect the hong kong people, if there’s anything i’ve learned about international relations, it’s that countries lie. and china might be the biggest liar of them all. it certaintly doesn’t help that hong kong has racked up such a high status in the globe.

hong kong waged the most glorious and admirable fight against the chinese government. but when the pandemic hit, china took the opportunity to swoop in and steal the remnants of their sovereignty by extending their state power to all sectors of hong kong. and they succeeded.

hong kong is now a territory fully under the control of the ccp. it’s tragic, considering how most hong kong citizens disagree with their leadership and sacrificed time, effort, and lives in expressing that. but what can you do?

regardless of the turnout, hong kong will continue to enrapture me for the values the hong kong people exhibited and their fierce nationalism that i could never imitate. now that we’ve moved past the protests, my special interests now are hong kong’s economy and culture, with an emphasis on their economy because hoooly 🤯

[Edwina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant and thought provoking book by Nathan Law which is essentially a love letter to his home in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong he believes it can be. In discussing freedom and what it means to be free whilst battling against authoritarianism and being an activist, Law concisely does this by offering up nuggets of questions to readers about the extent to which our democratic societies have the ability to uphold our freedoms under the threat of authoritarian regimes like the CCP who rule by law. This is incredibly detailed, insightful, jam-packed with memorable lines that I know will stay with me for a while. It is an impressive, eye-opening and touching read to those who believe in hope, change and the incredibly fearlessness and resilience of the pro-democracy movement in HK especially during 2019-20 and of course, to Nathan who writes this as he remains in exile in the UK. A personal experience for him, is a lesson for us all. It is highly emotive and Law adds his thoughts on authoritarianism and how we can confront this as a collective. In saying that, it is a reminder for us to never take our freedoms for granted and to continue to uphold the freedoms we value and hold close to our hearts as the book explores the ways in which at once a free and open society like Hong Kong, has had their own freedoms eroding.

[Emette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel torn between two worlds as I read this latest publication by one of the most representative HK pro-democracy leader indefinitely in exile, while the daily news headlines were broadcasted and blasted on East Rail line MTR, forcing the regime's narrative into everyone's eardrum. The candidness throughout this memoir captures the essence of the anti-extradition bill protests, which is now painted over by layers of state and self censorship, ruling by law, imprisonment, national education, and perhaps in the future, historical nihilism. The trust between and responsibility towards members of the society have been weakened, ultimately undermining the power of civil society that actually moulds societies into communities. It aches every real Hongkonger to read this book, find traces of kinships in Law's upbringing story, then look up, turn around, and try to grasp the bygones of this once vibrant and dynamic city.

This is a cautionary tale.

[Liberty Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great description of what is happening in China with the CCP and Hong Kong, easy for those with no prior experience on the subject to read. I feel like I now have a good understanding on the political system of China as well as the problem it poses to the world.

I noticed the phrase and those analogous to 'not only x but y' far too many times. The book had no central storyline other than "outlining the problems with freedom in the PRC" and didn't tell events in a historical order, making some chapters feel repetitive/confusing. Personal anecdotes and cited evidence were, though sparse, great parts of the book.

“Freedom Triumphs as long as we remember to endure”
"Rights are nothing unless exercised."

[Moriah Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freedom is fragile as noted by many of the world's political scientist and specialists on democracies around the world (e.g. Adam Przeworski). Nathan Law provides an exclusively Hong Kong-oriented take on the global authoritarian threat and depicts the significance of the Hong Kong-China conflict in our contemporary globalized world. What does the assault on civil liberties in Hong Kong show about fragility of democratic institutions and why does everyone seem to agree that democracy and its institutions must be consistently safeguarded and defended? Law answers these questions in his book on the decaying democracy of Hong Kong, a former British colony.

[Lea vdd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sincerely loved this book, because even if it’s somewhat historical and backed up by citations, it is a deep insight into the feelings and perspectives of Nathan Law, which are captivating, inspiring and very often very philosophical. Often when I read books on politics I find them hard to read in terms of that it’s exhausting. It was not the case with this book. It was in a lot of moments very scenic and just mixed with a rhetoric and importance that made me think about Hongkong and what he’s been through for a long time. I highly recommend this book, also to people who, so far, didn’t know about Hongkong or never have been interested in political lectures.

[Anna Mock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really interesting! I think I would have enjoyed a little more history leading up to it, though. At times, the book felt choppy as if things were told out of order, and that wasn't enjoyable. However, for a book about the current crisis in Hong Kong and how this is playing out on a global scale was really fascinating.

As a general rule, I don't like authors telling me I need to be an activist. I just think it's obnoxious. But I see how that is the point of this author's entire life and I respect that. I think before someone reads this book it may be helpful to do read a history book about China in the 20th Century so as to be able to understand the current events better.

[Mylyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story on how intimidation works. Now living in exile, the author can write freely about CCP’s aggressive actions in Hong Kong. A great read in time for the 25th anniversary of the British handover of Hong Kong to China. Somewhat historical but easy-to-understand text. I find it interesting why the author chose to repeatedly cite SCMP articles as references for his factual claims, given the publication’s unclear ties with CCP. Nevertheless, it’s a good wake-up call on the rise of fragile democracies.

[Gian Moisé · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nathan is a great person, activist, and sincere advocate of democracy.
The book is not great because it works more as a series of speeches than an actual narration.
Editors and writers who advised him should have told his story more in detail, whereas here you start from the assumption that you know everything about him already, but at that point you don't really need to read the book.

There are some interesting facts about Hong Kong, but also that should have been deepened.
Overall, it feels like this book is a missed opportunity.

[John Doe · Rating 5 out of 5]

還記得烽煙滿街的人潮，還明白歲月如梭的玩笑，傷感的你贈我那溫暖，伴我旅程從此永遠。若有天戰勝哀愁 不問天氣，兩鬢斑白，約定再等你。
上一代逃難來到今天所愛城市，以前提供庇護的地方，但今天卻成爲“生產難民的地方”，你覺得很諷刺。離鄉背井應該怎樣面對思鄉的問題，對你來說見朋友是不錯的調劑，圍爐是需要的，才更有力量向前走。倖存者的內疚心態，大家都承擔了不同代價，因此更要提醒自己將這些負面情緒變爲動力，“你即使面對多少不開心的事，但至少也是自由之身”，在你的崗位繼續努力希望能改善現狀。 “正正因爲環境艱難，更需要有能力及有自由之身的人，做更多的事”。

https://youtu.be/mWsUfABC-nI?si=6EDFK...

Delay no more，自由的代價是永恆的警覺，但也需要社會各方去捍衛，民主就是其中之一。獻給所有為爭取自由走上街頭的人」，呼籲各界不應遺忘這些人的犧牲。自由如何在高壓下迅速陷落，並以此警醒世人，不要把自由民主視為理所當然。

[Ross Fossard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Focussing on the transformation of Hong Kong from a free, democratic state to a quasi-authoritarian police state ruled by an oppressive and repressive Beijing regime, this book shows how China exerts authority and power over its own people through conscious and active manipulation of reality as described in available media.

[Bryan Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth reading. Most people are unaware of the power and influence that the CCP has over the World and out future freedoms that many of us take for granted today. Read and then decide for yourself.

[August Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative. Accessible. Good introduction to the political and social history of the conflicts between Hong Kong and Communist China. Would have liked more emotionality in his anecdotes - felt too polished.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and scary read about China's take over of Hong Kong. The author recalls leaving China for Hong Kong as a child, the freedom they felt there, and the rapid loss of that freedom via hostile takeover.

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so excellent. Parts autobiography and history and current events all centered around Hong Kong

[Ethan Tang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A necessary read for the Hong Konger