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Would you mind joining me in around of
"Do you hear the people sing"?
Ah, Admiralty Hong Kong,
I remember being here two years ago
during the Umbrella movement.
In 2014, the people of Hong Kong
mainly young people,
took the streets for 79 days
to protest for their right to directly elect their leader
something Beijing promised under the one country two systems policy.
But, spoiler alert!
They lied.
I remember it all so clearly
that's where I slept in a tent
right where that BMW is driving by.
Over there, that was the Lennon wall.
Oh, I can almost see student leader Joshua Wong getting arousing speech.
Oh, wait, that is Joshua Wong.
Joshua!
Joshua!
Joshua, Joshua!
Hi!
Hi, do you mind if I get an interview with you?
Oh of course, okay.
Awesome,
can we go somewhere quieter?
Yeah, that spot is better
Alright, let's go.
Okay.
Joshua, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed.
What's it like when we're back here at Admiralty?
Uhm, it's the place two years ago we occupy
and create a miracle
or even history of Hong Kong.
And it's also a place that now I work in
because I'm already the assistant of legislature
ahh, Nathan Law.
Do you think someday they'll build big statues of you?
Ah, I think it's too far away, in fact, yeah.
You're being too modest.
Would you consider another mass movement like the Umbrella?
Next year, March will be the Chief Executive Election.
I believe it will be a critical point for Hongkongers
to have a massive civil movement
to show our anger to the interference of Beijing again.
How do you think that will be different from two years ago?
I would say that, there's too much uncertainty,
after the Umbrella movement
and with the bookseller incident happen of kidnapped it from Hong Kong to China,
uhm, how I've been detained at Bangkok airport
because Thai government have to remain its good relationship with China.
And how disqualify of two pro-independence legislators,
it seems that we already faced the failure of one country two system.
And with that erosion of high degree autonomy,
the path of Hong Kong twist democracy is really far away, in fact.
Do you think there's any hope for maintaining
a one country two systems policy with the Communist Party?
Hope for the best, prepare for the worse.
It's a long time battle.
I can see the hope from people,
but I can't see the hope from Communist Party.
That people are always the trigger point to create a miracle.
That's why it would be a motivator for me to continue to fight to Hongkongers.
And you co-founded a new political party - Demosistō.
What is the goals of that party?
Well, we hope is to push for self-determination movement.
We believe Hongkongers can gain a right of self-determination
can [refer] a democratic procedure or even referendum
to decide the constitution and sovereignty of Hong Kong
after the end of 50 years unchanged policy in 2047.
And what does Demosistō think about Hong Kong independence?
Is that difference from self-determination?
In fact, in the parcel platform of Demosistō
we do not advocate independence
but what we believe is
the sovereignty of Hong Kong should be decided by people in Hong Kong.
That's why,
of course pro-Beijing force they would hope to turn one country two systems
to be one country one system.
But in the referendum,
no matter one country one system,
one country two systems,
complete autonomy
or independence,
they can also be a possible option to let Hongkongers decide their future.
And in the Demosistō manifesto,
which says people should rise up,
are you sure that's a good idea?
I would say that,
now Hongkongers are facing a largest communist regime in the world.
it will be a long time battle.
After the Umbrella movement ended, we may feel downhearted and depressed.
but after the Legislative Council Election,
and with the positive result of new generation
and a civil society force can enter the institution,
it already proved that
it is still the strike that we need to continue to fight for.
And in America,
there's a feeling that young people don't care about politics,
why is Hong Kong making America look bad?
I would say that,
just like the president election,
of course it's hard for the majority young, young generation
or university student
to involve or support those mainstream candidate.
But how they involved in crowdfunding campaign of Bernie Sanders,
it already proved that
young people they may be dissatisfied
with the old or existing institution traditional politician.
But they were still hope to gain a new voices
and a force to give a change to the system.
It's also the reason
for me to found the political party
after the end of Umbrella movement.
It's necessary for us to keep the momentum
and let people in Hong Kong and even the world
to know that young generation and Hong Kong
will still continue strike on the street
but also enter the institution to be the legislator.
So, recently you met with politicians in the US,
what's your hopes for the US getting involved?
The threat of China is not just only affecting people in Hong Kong, China or Taiwan.
It affect the whole Southeast Asia or Asia Pacific.
Just like I've been blacklisted by Malaysia,
and Thai government detained me
all because they hoped to maintain
the forum relationship with China and Beijing government.
So, I would say that,
I just urge the international community
to keep the eyes in Hong Kong
and just like House Senator Rubio and Cotton
have raised the Hong Kong human rights and democracy act
to show the support of the international community
on the democracy movement in Hong Kong.
It will be a positive trend in the future.
Now, you and I have both been accused of being in the CIA.
Are you a part of the CIA?
Of couse not!
Yes, they would say that I'm a CIA agent
and also blame that I've been controlled by.
I've been receiving the training from US Marine.
But, I just remember the comment of my peers
compared to your body size with Tom Cruise.
Of course, you're not CIA agent, yeah.
Well that is exactly what a CIA agents would say.
So, what is your view on Yau Wai-ching and Baggio Leung oath-taking?
I am quite,
I would say that I disagree of using this kind of racist term
to deliver a message in the oath.
If they support Hongkong independence,
they can just directly voice out the slogan of the demanding Hongkong independence
instead of using this kind of terms
or verbs to elaborate on their political stand
But, I would say that,
the disqualified that by Beijing
is just proving how Beijing betray and ignore the promise in a joint declaration.
Especially on how they,
how they would try to override the judicial system and legislature,
And,
whole of the system is just fulfilling the interest of Beijing.
And just to clarify for the audience,
so when you mentioned the "slurry" was the specific use of the term "china".
Yeah.
Which was what the Japanese referred to as Chinese people during World War Two
and so it's become somewhat of a racial slur.
Yeah.
And you were refused entry to both Thailand and Malaysia.
Are there other countries that you're banned from visiting
Of course, mainland China, haha.
Yeah, and I've been invited by the activist group in Singapore
that support us most years.
But, because due to my personal safety
and I just suggested to have a Skype conference with them
because I don't want to be detained it in a Bangkok
in the detain cell again.
Are you concerned for your safety, I know you've gotten beaten up.
Uhm, it is really inconvenient being a Hongkonger,
I've been blacklisted by most of the Southeast Asia countries already.
So, no matter, to have a holiday,
if I hope to get a trip overseas,
yeah, my option is quiet limited.
Yeah.
And I know when you were just 18,
Fortune magazine listed you as one of the greatest leaders in the world.
Do you have any advice for other aspiring great leaders,
I'm asking for a friend?
I would say that,
Fortune magazine in1997 had a couple of stories with the title of the death of Hong Kong.
But, 18 years later ,they choose me to be do 10 greatest leaders in the world.
I'm not saying that I'm the greatest leader in the world.
Actually, I disagree on it.
But I think it's just proved to the world
if you guys are saying that Hong Kong is already dead,
it's wrong!
We face the death of one country two systems,
we face the failure of high degree autonomy,
but it's not the death of Hong Kong.
Because Hongkongese is still passionate
and have our courage and will come on to fight for democracy.
One more question,
would you mind joining me around of
"Do you hear the people sing?"
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men.
This is the music of a people. Who will not be slaves again.
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums.
There is a life about to start.
When tomorrow comes!
Yeah, I love your YouTube channel.
We got that on camera.
Great, thanks Joshua,
Please subscribe it.
Subscribe, yes!
Yes.
Ok.