Treasure in Decade - Hong Kong Protest Archival Exhibition - Opening

• Date:
• label.tijd 13:00 - 19:00
• Location: 我地 NGO DEI

Opening was on the 26th, exhibition runs till October 13th

"Treasure in Decade - Hong Kong Protest Archival Exhibition" showcasing the history and impact of the Hong Kong protests since 2014.

Treasure in Decade - Hong Kong Protest Archival Exhibition offers a profound exploration of Hong Kong's recent socio-political history through over 40 protest artefacts since the 2014 Umbrella Movement, collected by the International Institute of Social History (IISH) and other private collections, spanning to the 2019 Anti-Extradition Bill protests. The exhibition is divided into six insightful sections — Part 1 - Awakening, Part 2 - Varied Journeys, A Shared End, Part 3 - Do You Hear the People Sing, Part 4 - Road Closure, Part 5 - They Can’t Kill Us All, and Part 6 - We’ll Be Back — each capturing pivotal moments and the collective memory of a city in turmoil. By engaging with these artefacts, visitors gain a deeper understanding of their historical significance and the narratives they represent, prompting crucial conversations about the role of art and documentation in preserving social movements for future generations. This exhibition honours the courage and perseverance of those on the frontlines and ensures that the lessons of this tumultuous decade are neither forgotten nor ignored.

Exhibition Opening and Forum

From the Streets of the Umbrella Movement to the Conundrum of the Anti-Extradition Protests: Hong Kong's Struggle After Losing Its Land

Hong Kong, once known as the "City of Protests," has seen its street movements fade into history. As Richard Hughes put it, "Hong Kong is a borrowed land." Whether during British rule or post-handover, democracy has remained elusive, and the people have never been able to elect a government that truly serves them. Over the decades, Hong Kongers exemplified civic virtue through peaceful marches and gatherings, hoping the government would respond with reason, but each time they faced oppression and indifference.

In 2014, the Umbrella Movement was met with tear gas and police violence. In 2019, two million citizens resisted the Extradition Bill, only for the Chinese Communist Party to declare the Sino-British Joint Declaration a "historical document." In 2020, the National Security Law was imposed, followed by the "improvement" of the electoral system in 2021, and the rapid enforcement of Article 23 this year.

In this authoritarian era, the "Lion Rock Spirit" has been replaced by submission to the powerful. Hong Kongers have lost not just their land, but the space and hope for resistance. Today, many are either imprisoned or in exile. Looking back, how did Hong Kong's path of struggle reach this point? And in the face of losing "land," where does the future of resistance lie?

Speakers:
𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐰 周永康 (virtual)
Board member of HKDC - Hong Kong Democracy Council US, PhD Candidate at UC Berkeley

𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐮 (onsite)
Collections Specialist of Hong Kong Action Archives

𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐚𝐢 黎恩灝 (onsite)
Research Fellow, Georgetown Center for Asian Law

𝐑𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐠 黃台仰 (onsite)
Founder of Freiheit für Hongkong

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