Rise of the Patriots: Hong Kong - BBC World Service Documentaries

Key Concepts

• National Security Law (NSL): Imposed by Beijing in 2020, granting sweeping powers to the police and criminalizing vaguely-defined offenses.
• Patriots Rule Hong Kong: The principle that only those loyal to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) can govern Hong Kong.
• Article 23: Hong Kong's own security law, passed in 2024, reinforcing Beijing's control.
• National Education: Mandatory lessons in schools designed to build national identity and patriotism.
• Cultural Revolution: A period of political and social upheaval in China (1966-1976) marked by purges and violence.
• Sedition: Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state.
• Checks and Balances: A system where different branches of government limit each other's power.
• Verbal Revolutionaries: A term used to describe patriots who are seen as political opportunists.

Hong Kong's Freedoms Under Scrutiny

The video explores the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong following the implementation of the National Security Law (NSL) in 2020 and the subsequent rise of the "Patriots Rule Hong Kong" principle. It examines how these changes have impacted various aspects of Hong Kong society, including press freedom, education, and political expression.

The National Security Law and its Impact

• Sweeping Powers: The NSL granted the police increased surveillance powers and imposed severe penalties for vaguely-defined offenses like "undermining the government" or "colluding with foreign forces."
• Arrests and Closures: Hundreds of people have been arrested for speaking out, and many independent news sites have been forced to close.
• Climate of Fear: The NSL has created a climate of fear, with many people self-censoring and avoiding potentially sensitive topics.
• Police Hotline: The police launched a hotline to receive anonymous tips from the public regarding national security offenses, receiving almost 900,000 tip-offs.

The "Patriots Rule Hong Kong" Principle

• Loyalty to the CCP: The principle dictates that only those who swear loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) can hold positions in government.
• Redefining Patriotism: Patriotism is now defined as trusting and supporting the Chinese government.
• Exclusion of Dissent: Those who don't support the party no longer feel safe speaking their mind.

The Role of "Patriots"

• Innes Tang: A businessman who organized rallies in support of the police during the 2019 pro-democracy protests. He believes the NSL brought peace and stability to Hong Kong.
• Ko Tat-pun: Organized teams to confront pro-democracy protesters.
• Reporting Hotline: Tang set up a hotline for the public to report national security offenses and actively reported individuals and organizations to the police.
• Shift in Perspective: Tang later stopped reporting suspects, believing the movement had gone too far and led to extreme nationalism.

Erosion of Press Freedom

• Ronson Chan: An award-winning veteran reporter and former chairman of the Journalists' Union, is an outspoken defender of press freedom.
• Arrest and Charges: Ronson's home was raided, and he was arrested and charged with obstruction while live-streaming. He was sentenced to five days in prison.
• Chilling Effect: The NSL has had a chilling effect on the media, with journalists being more careful and worried about their reporting.

Impact on Education

• National Education: Mandatory lessons are designed to build national identity in young people.
• Curriculum Changes: Liberal studies have been replaced by a course on citizenship ideals, lawfulness, and patriotism.
• Textbook Revisions: Some new textbooks falsely state that Hong Kong was never a British colony.
• Mandatory Visits: Visits to mainland China are now mandatory for all high school students.

The New Security Law: Article 23

• Unanimous Passage: Article 23 was passed unanimously by a patriots-only parliament in March 2024.
• Reinforced Control: It granted the authorities more power than the NSL and reinforced the central Chinese government's complete control over Hong Kong.

Cultural Revolution Parallels

• Lew Mon-hung: A former member of the national advisory body to the Chinese government, expressed concern that the "Patriots Rule Hong Kong" principle has been distorted.
• Informing and Paranoia: Lew warned that setting up reporting hotlines and encouraging informing is a paranoid mentality reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution.

Book Punch Case Study

• Targeted Harassment: Book Punch, a small bookstore that hosts talks and discussions, has been repeatedly inspected by government departments and faces harassment and anonymous complaints.
• Entertainment License: Authorities questioned the bookstore owner, Pong Yat-ming, about holding a talk about the war in Ukraine without an entertainment license, despite it being a closed-door event.

Societal Impact

• Emigration: An estimated 300,000 Hongkongers have left the city since the NSL was imposed.
• Self-Censorship: Academics and students are self-censoring to avoid potentially sensitive topics.
• Distrust and Isolation: Fear and distrust have become part of Hong Kong society, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Notable Quotes

• "Hong Kong's governance must be... tightly controlled by patriots" - Chinese government statement.
• "It means you have to trust and support the Chinese government" - On the definition of a patriot.
• "We're no longer a city of protest. So what are we? I don't have the answer yet." - Ronson Chan, reflecting on the changes in Hong Kong.
• "Too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing. Going overboard leads to extreme nationalism. Extreme nationalism is never good for any country." - Innes Tang, on his changing perspective.
• "Informing isn't making an official criminal report, it's not filing a lawsuit. It's a psychological threat." - Lew Mon-hung, on the dangers of encouraging informing.

Conclusion

The video paints a concerning picture of Hong Kong's diminishing freedoms under the NSL and the "Patriots Rule Hong Kong" principle. The increased surveillance, arrests, self-censorship, and changes in education have transformed Hong Kong society. While some, like Innes Tang, initially supported these changes, concerns are growing that the pursuit of patriotism has gone too far, leading to extreme nationalism and a climate of fear reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution. The future of Hong Kong remains uncertain, with many Hongkongers feeling isolated and questioning the city's identity.