The Lost Identity of Hong Kong

Hong Kong has seen drastic changes over the years after a series of political reforms and crackdowns on freedom and democracy, especially after the sweeping National Security Law was imposed by Beijing in 2020. The authorities imposed laws and policies to rinse the education, politics, cultures and even newspapers that they consider should be de-colonised, after Britain ruled the city for more than 100 years. The economy has declined. The number of international travellers has seen new low. Diversity in culture and politics is compromised. The youth lost hope. Schools are forced to implement patriotic education which includes a requirement that Chinese national flags must be raised in and outside classrooms. Freedom and democracy have gone. The future is faded. Identity is taken away. The pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily forced by the authorities to close down can now only be found in the museum. And the Chinese leader Li Keqiang that once prospered Hong Kong, died this October. It is now China's Hong Kong. It is now Xi Jinping's Hong Kong. And the once unique but strong identity Hong Kong has had, is now gone.