Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong ‘very brave,’ says expat living in Regina

A Hong Kong expat living in Regina says her younger sister back home felt the burn of tear gas during pro-democracy protests and she wasn’t even on the front lines.

“I think the protesters on the front lines, they’re very brave,” Zovis Tang said during The Greg Morgan Morning Show on Monday.

Tang said she has never taken an interest in politics before. But then she saw the public’s backlash against an extradition bill that would have allowed some criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial.

The bill had people worried about erosion to the semi-autonomous territory’s independent justice system.

Hong Kong’s government suspended that bill following protests but demonstrations have now continued into their 11th week as activists demand the full withdrawal of the bill, along with democratic reforms, investigations into police brutality, the release of protesters and the resignation of chief executive, Carrie Lam.

“After the first protest, I saw so many people walk the streets and realized how … the extradition bill has caused the problems in Hong Kong,” Tang said.

“I really wanted to go back if not for summer classes. I just want to tell the people in Hong Kong that I’m very supportive.”

Last time Tang was in Hong Kong, she said things were peaceful.

Tang calls both Canada and Hong Kong home but hasn’t decided where she’ll settle.

“If I do stay in Canada in the future, I’ll always go and visit Hong Kong because that’s where I was born and raised,” she said.