Central Taiwan Stands with Hong Kong Against Totalitarianism: Local Groups Hold Press Conference and Form Human Chain to Head North

Photo/Liao Chia-jui

The Citizen Congress Watch (Good People, Good Actions Association), the Judicial Reform Foundation Taichung Office, the Good Temperature Taiwan Youth Foundation, Hong Kong students in Taiwan, and Taichung local civil society groups held a press conference at the Taichung City Hall Square on Thursday, September 19 at 10 a.m., announcing the launch of the "Taichung Stands with Hong Kong" initiative for the weekend of September 28-29. Citizens can take shuttle buses from the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung on Sunday of next week (September 29) (advance registration required, free for students with valid ID) to travel north and participate in the "September 29 Taiwan-Hong Kong Major March: Stand with Hong Kong, Oppose Totalitarianism." On the eve of the march (September 28) in the afternoon, the Taichung City Citizen Square will also host the "We:connect: Protect Hong Kong, Resist China Together / Hand-in-Hand to Support Hong Kong Action." Citizens are welcome to participate wearing black tops.

Since June 9, 2019, the Hong Kong government has failed to actively respond to the demands of millions of citizens opposing the amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance. Instead, it has used police violence against peaceful protesters, violating international human rights standards. Faced with the totalitarian rule and threats of China, Taiwan's civil society groups will jointly initiate the "September 29 Taiwan-Hong Kong Major March: Stand with Hong Kong, Oppose Totalitarianism" next to the Legislative Yuan on the afternoon of September 29, demonstrating the resolve of Taiwan and Hong Kong to stand as one in supporting democracy. Taichung and Hong Kong maintain close ties. In addition to Hong Kong and Macao students studying in Taichung accounting for one-sixth of the national total, there are about 50 round-trip flights between the two cities per week, and visits from Hong Kong to Taichung have already exceeded 350,000 person-trips. Over the past three months, aside from civil society groups holding rallies and short speeches in support of Hong Kong at the city hall square, many Taichung citizens have also spontaneously visited the Lennon Wall at the Meitsun Road underpass to write messages of encouragement for Hong Kong on sticky notes.

Relating deeply to the difficult plight of the people of Hong Kong due to their close ties with the city, multiple civil society groups in central Taiwan gathered today (Sept. 19) to hold a press conference, calling on citizens to actively support Hong Kong rather than self-censoring, and to uphold the belief of "symbiosis and shared prosperity between Taichung and Hong Kong" with the strength of a friendly city. During the meeting, civil society groups released information regarding the chartered buses heading north for the September 29 march, and the Rural Pelvis Youth performed the song "Flowers of Freedom." Lead singer A-ta stated that citizens have the right to pursue and fight for freedom, and urged everyone to stand together for next weekend's march.

Speeches were also delivered during the meeting by students and representatives of various civil society groups in central Taiwan. A Hong Kong student (speaking anonymously) stated that wherever there is injustice, there will be resistance, but the people of Hong Kong will not give up or back down because history records resolve. Hong Kong is currently facing unprecedented human rights deprivation, and they hope Taiwanese citizens will join the September 29 major march to support the "Five Demands, Not One Less." The Hong Kong student then tied "Hong Kong Add Oil" ribbons onto the arms of Taichung students on-site, symbolizing the solidarity of Hong Kong and Taiwan against totalitarianism.

Hsiao I-min, Director of the Judicial Reform Foundation Taichung Office, stated that judicial cases serving those in power in violation of political neutrality have emerged endlessly in recent years. For example, the improper judgments issued by the Hong Kong High Court against the three student leaders of the Umbrella Movement have undermined public trust in the judiciary. The roar of millions of Hong Kong people opposing the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance is the sum of all fears. Supporting Hong Kong means defending Taiwan. He hopes citizens in central Taiwan will throw themselves into the September 29 major march to demonstrate their resolve in pursuing freedom. Furthermore, after publicizing the carpooling information for traveling north, the initially scheduled two tour buses were quickly filled to capacity. Because free rides are provided for students, a public appeal is hereby made for kind-hearted citizens to sponsor the transportation costs, allowing more students from central Taiwan to travel north and participate in the march. Please contact the JRF Taichung Office.

Lin Fang-ju, Vice Chairperson of the Citizen Congress Watch, stated that 50 years ago, Taiwan began a 30-year period of martial law during which the law became a tool for rulers to eliminate dissidents. The people had neither freedom of speech nor freedom of thought, and youth political prisoners such as Chang Chang-mei in Taichung and Ch'en San-hsing in高雄 were imprisoned before turning twenty. The situation currently faced by Hong Kong youths is precisely risking imprisonment and life for the sake of freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and democratic values. Half a century later, while Taiwan has yet to emerge from the shadows and trauma, China has begun exercising totalitarian rule from within, ignoring public opinion. The Hong Kong government has also allowed police to use violence against citizens, even shooting protesters in the head at close range with riot bullets resulting in lifelong disability, refusing rescue workers from saving injured people, stripping female protesters naked during searches, and obstructing lawyers from meeting arrested demonstrators. The people of Hong Kong have not yielded to these human-rights-violating atrocities. Standing at the outpost of supporting democratic values, they are reminding us that the slightest concession could cause the next generation to lose the democracy and freedom we currently possess. Please let Taiwanese citizens stand up in the last weekend of September—let us stand with Hong Kong together on September 28 and 29.

Hsu Yuan-ya, Chairperson of the Taichung Comprehensive Recall Association, stated that the people of Hong Kong are enduringly and physically holding out against the Chinese Communist Party's authoritarianism, while Taiwan's sovereignty has long been suppressed by the CCP in various ways. Faced with the political violence and threats of this totalitarian regime, Taiwan and Hong Kong must unite even more to show the international community the united power of democracy and freedom. Following the June rally in front of the Taichung City Hall to support Hong Kong and the August Lennon Wall action at the Meitsun Road underpass, she wishes to summon more Taichung residents to join next weekend's voice-raising actions, including the major march in Taipei on September 29 and the "We:connect: Protect Hong Kong, Resist China Together / Hand-in-Hand to Support Hong Kong Action" at the Taichung City Citizen Square on the afternoon of September 28. Through local actions, we can weave together a defense line against totalitarianism.

Hsu Shu-hui, Deputy Convener of the Central Taiwan Citizens' Action Front, stated that since the 1980s, income and price levels between Taiwan and China may have narrowed, but the gap in terms of democracy, freedom, and human rights has widened! The puppet government of Hong Kong, manipulated by the CCP, has responded to the Hong Kong people with violence. Not only do our hearts ache, but we also receive a greater warning regarding our relationship with China. With next year's elections approaching, many politicians remain indifferent and noncommittal; therefore, civil society groups and ordinary citizens must take active action, using Taiwan's democracy and freedom to support Hong Kong's pursuit of democracy and freedom!

Liao Shu-ping, Director of the Taichung City Medical Alliance, spoke in Taiwanese, expressing the view that freedom and human rights are universal values, and the government's duty is to serve the people. The people of Hong Kong want their own laws, yet they are being infringed upon by a human-rights-lagging Chinese government. The force of Taiwanese people stepping forward will enable Hong Kong to take an even greater step forward!

Chang Pei-hsin, spokesperson for TCS Taiwan Citizen Stem, stated that watching how the Hong Kong police have desecrated the legal system that the people were once proud of over the past three months makes it imperative for Taiwanese people to stand up. Facing the oppression of the same major power, democratic allies should support one another. She hopes to pool the power of Taiwanese citizens to demand that the governments of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China must not destroy the basic rights of democracy, the rule of law, and freedom. Following the steadfast Lennon Walls that have sprouted across Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, she sincerely invites citizens of central Taiwan to stand up together on September 28, holding hands to support Hong Kong.

Lin Cheng-han, specialist at the Taichung Chapter of the Homemakers Union, stated that mothers have never been absent from the long Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill movement, stepping forward for the future of their children. Some Hong Kong mothers even stood alone before hundreds of riot police officers, firmly pleading with the Hong Kong police to leave a way out for the protesting youth. During the Sunflower Student Movement, Homemakers Union mothers condemned police violence harming students, and they feel equally heartbroken over the violent suppression of the Anti-Extradition movement. They hope more residents of central Taiwan will strive for the democratic landscape of "Today's Taiwan, Hong Kong Tomorrow."

Prospective college entrance exam students from the Wushui Front stated that apart from grades, they care deeply about the people of Hong Kong who are bravely fighting against injustice. Seeing the dangerous consequences of being unified by China through Hong Kong's fixed immigration, plundered medical resources, infringed autonomous rights, and the compromised judicial independence guaranteed under the handover of sovereignty makes them feel heartbroken that the Hong Kong and Beijing governments still refuse to directly respond to the Five Demands. Even on a school day, they wanted to come here to stand with the people of Hong Kong.

Members of the Soochow Searching Roots Tree (note: refers to Providence University student group) stated that recently, Hong Kong police have only protected pro-China figures and triad violent elements while allowing unreasonable riot charges to be pinned on protesting citizens, which has infuriated all Hong Kong people and raised doubts about whether future generations can continue to live and work in peace on this land. Recently, students at many universities across Taiwan spontaneously organized on-campus marches to "Support Hong Kong, Protect Taiwan" because we felt that our fellow students from Hong Kong need more strength to stand with them. The younger generation of Taiwanese has a responsibility to stand bravely with Hong Kong people on the island of Taiwan—commonly known as the "Beacon of Asian Democracy"—continuously using material aid, street advocacy, and internet information dissemination to jointly resist China's dictatorship and authoritarianism and prevent the infiltration of red forces!

Groups and students at the press conference chanted slogans such as "Five Demands, Not One Less," "Taichung Supports Hong Kong, Block Totalitarianism Together," and "Add Oil, People of Hong Kong; Add Oil, People of Taiwan," inviting Taichung residents to stand up together next weekend. Next Sunday (Sept. 29), travel north to participate in the "September 29 Taiwan-Hong Kong Major March: Stand with Hong Kong, Oppose Totalitarianism" beside the Legislative Yuan; next Saturday (Sept. 28) afternoon, participate in the Taichung City Citizen Square "We:connect: Protect Hong Kong, Resist China Together / Hand-in-Hand to Support Hong Kong Action" synchronized Taiwan-Hong Kong action, so that Hong Kong is not alone, and to speak up for oneself while jointly guarding the values of human rights, freedom, and democracy.

Participating Groups

Citizen Congress Watch
Judicial Reform Foundation Taichung Office
Good Temperature
Taiwan Youth Foundation
Environmental Jurists Association Taichung Office
Taichung City Comprehensive Recall Association
Central Taiwan Citizens' Action Front
Wushui Front
Soochow Searching Roots Tree (Providence University)
Humanist Education Foundation Central Office
Homemakers Union Environmental Protection Foundation Taichung Chapter
Taiwan Gaze Association
Hong Kong Outlanders
Taichung City Medical Alliance