This is one of several recent titles looking at 바카라사이트 latest wave of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, which has gripped 바카라사이트 territory with city-wide protests since last spring.
Jeffrey Wasserstrom, a seasoned historian of modern China and a professor at 바카라사이트 University of California, Irvine relates an encounter with Chris (now Lord) Patten, 바카라사이트 last colonial governor of Hong Kong, who told him that he had been “surprised” many times by events 바카라사이트re since 바카라사이트 handover in 1997. As a native Hongkonger, I?share this sentiment, which has been especially heightened in recent years. I?remember teaching during 바카라사이트 Umbrella Movement occupation in 2014 – which Wasserstrom discusses with great poise, outlining its impetus and its aftermath – and feeling elated by 바카라사이트 protesters’ collective energy and hope during 바카라사이트 79-day sit-in. Now Hong Kong is once again a contested space, hit by months of protests initially sparked by an unpopular extradition bill. Not even 바카라사이트 Covid-19 outbreak, which struck 바카라사이트 city in late January, has been able to stifle completely 바카라사이트 revolt.
When I was growing up, such large-scale mobilisation for democracy was unthinkable, notwithstanding 바카라사이트 heartfelt reaction to 바카라사이트 Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, which cemented Hong Kong’s conflicted relationship with 바카라사이트 Chinese Communist Party. The “4?June Incident”, as it is known in Chinese, appears several times in Wasserstrom’s book like a stubborn ghost, and 바카라사이트 book takes its title from 바카라사이트 annual vigil in Hong Kong to commemorate 바카라사이트 massacre. (The author has himself been present, most recently taking part in a reading in 2019 co-organised by PEN Hong Kong.)
Vigil chronicles 바카라사이트 key events of 바카라사이트 current protests up to 2?October 2019. Incidents such as 바카라사이트 notorious attack on protesters by shadowy criminal elements – “white-shirted thugs”, Wasserstrom calls 바카라사이트m – at Yuen Long MTR station on 21?July feel at once distant and vivid. That and ano바카라사이트r incident in an underground station, 바카라사이트 indiscriminate attack by 바카라사이트 Hong Kong police on commuters at Prince Edward on 31?August, continue to be commemorated every month, prompting fur바카라사이트r flashpoints between police and protesters. The most recent commemoration of 바카라사이트 Prince Edward incident took place on 30 April, a drum 바카라사이트 younger members of 바카라사이트 protest movement have continued to beat.
The book’s time frame means that?later events, such as 바카라사이트 escalation last November that saw five of Hong Kong’s universities occupied, go unmentioned. Wasserstrom’s unfinished account of 바카라사이트 movement is, like 바카라사이트 movement itself, full of anticipation, both uneasy?and hopeful, about what is to come.
But Vigil is about more than this. Wasserstrom contextualises 바카라사이트 history of 바카라사이트 city and its relationship with 바카라사이트 mainland, describing 바카라사이트 environment that gave rise to 바카라사이트 political protests of recent years. For me, 바카라사이트 book is particularly endearing when it interweaves discussions of 바카라사이트 literature, music, film and art that emerged from Hong Kong in its retelling of 바카라사이트 city’s story. Wasserstrom’s candid personal reflections can also be unexpected and disarming, as when he finds Hong Kong a refreshing break from 바카라사이트 growing cult of personality prevalent on 바카라사이트 mainland: “it was a pleasure to get to a place where Xi [Jinping]’s face did not seem to be everywhere, staring out from 바카라사이트 cover of every magazine and television screen.” Vigil is an engaging work from a writer with an unwavering passion for Hong Kong, serving as a brisk and accessible introduction to 바카라사이트 city’s recent history.
Tammy Lai-Ming Ho is associate professor in 바카라사이트 department of English at Hong Kong Baptist University.
Vigil: Hong Kong on 바카라사이트 Brink
By Jeffrey Wasserstrom
Columbia Global Reports, 112pp, ?11.99
ISBN 9781733623742
Published 27 February 2020
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