A life forever altered after head trauma on the night of 31 August, from dizziness while preparing for the DSE to continual challenges as a CUHK student and with career development

(31 Aug 20)One year ago on the night of 31 August, several police officers entered the platform and trains at Prince Edward Station. Brandishing batons and pepper-spraying those present, the actions of the police caused controversy. A year later, two arrestees - charged with unauthorised assembly and refused bail at the time - obtained permission to recover their belongings that the police seized as evidence. However, their lives have been permanently changed by that night. DSE student, surnamed Lee, was subject to blunt force trauma and lacerations to the head, which led to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). He claimed that frequent bouts of dizziness affected his studies. Although he was able to enter the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), he could not major in what he wanted. Sonia Ng Ngo-suet, another CUHK student, graduated with First Class Honours but hit a wall when it came to post-graduate and employment prospects. A professor had expressed concerns that her admission could result in less funding for the school.

Lee, 18, received a notification from the police last Friday to retrieve his belongings. He claimed that nearly half of the ten people in the same case have already recovered their personal effects. A lawyer stated that this typically meant that the case was closed but the police indicated that the returning of evidence had nothing to do with the progress of an investigation. Of the evidence recovered was Lee's white shirt. Large patches of dried bloodstains surrounded its collar. On 31 August last year, raptors [Special Tactical Squad] pummeled Lee's head with batons. He ended up with three open wounds that needed 14 stitches. He was hospitalised for nine days and was subsequently arrested. The police confiscated his shirt as evidence and kept it for almost a year.

The crimson bloodstains on his clothes have faded to a dull red. Lee said it was hard to describe how he felt when he first saw it. "Time flies. I'm not the same person as I was a year ago." Last year, Lee was entering Form 6 and should have been mentally preparing himself to sit for the DSE. His goal was to major in law at the University of Hong Kong. In Form 5, he was among the top 50-60 in a Band 1 school.

Lingering mTBI symptoms elude treatment, sudden dizzy spells while walking

After his injury, Lee said that he felt dizzy every time he had to concentrate, "The world was spinning, it made me nauseated." Even walking on the street would trigger a dizzy spell. Lee had elected to study economics and geography, both of which are "rote memorisation subjects" that he had to just "force in [his brain]". Meanwhile, the Anti-ELAB movement intensified. He lost the motivation to study until this January when it lost some steam. He started going to the study room every day, staying for 10-hour stretches. "I originally intended to start (studying) in the summer (last year)."

Lee stated that to this day, he would still get sudden dizzy spells. The doctor explained that it was a lingering symptom of the mTBI "that doesn't really have a treatment" besides taking medication*. Lee was grateful that his symptoms did not crop up during his exam. As of September this year, he would begin his studies at the CUHK.

Seeking compensation from the police, "[if only] not injured or just a bystander"

Any regrets for not entering his chosen major? Lee believed that if he was not beaten, "my grades would have been much better." Over the past year, he received many interviews due to his injuries. He filed a civil lawsuit against the Commissioner of Police at the time, Stephen Lo Wai-chung, to hold the police accountable for subjecting him to excessive force. "(If I didn't get injured,) I would probably have just shown that I was 'pissed off' on Facebook as a bystander." Sonia Ng was still a CUHK student when she was arrested on 31 August last year. A few weeks ago, she also retrieved her belongings that the police confiscated as evidence. During an open meeting with the university’s chancellors last year, she "unmasked" herself and accused the police of sexual assault against protesters, drawing public attention. Sonia said that while she expected verbal abuse from the "blue ribbons" [pro-establishment], "never did I think that it would be serious enough [to affect] employment prospects after graduation."

CUHK First Class Honours post-graduate admissions: professor expresses concerns over obstacles with school funding

Sonia had just graduated with First Class Honours from CUHK with a BEd in Early Childhood Education and a GPA of 3.5 (4 being the highest obtainable grade). From late last year, she sent about a dozen job applications to kindergartens and non-profit organisations only to come away empty-handed. She said that a college professor recommended that she work as a part-time assistant but the human resources department rejected her application without an interview. As for further education, she claimed that when she applied for a master's degree in social work at a school, the professor told her privately that admitting her would cause concerns regarding the school's funding. Finding a placement for her fieldwork may pose a challenge.

Wandering from person to person, Sonia finally found a part-time job that paid 3,000 HKD per month from a friend. She also received a conditional offer for the MSc in Education (Child Development and Education) from Oxford University in the UK. She laughed to herself, however. If she were to graduate from Oxford and no one would still hire her upon her return, "would I be the most 'pathetic' masters degree holder?"

Sonia maintained that she held no regrets for taking a stand but "it's definitely false that I haven't been discouraged." She said that if she were the one who was incapable, "I can improve and study hard. But if it's the world that's unwilling to provide you with opportunities, then you're left helpless. It's like all my past efforts were in vain." She stated that she was merely talking about her experiences. "If it left a criminal record, I would have understood."

Editor's Note:

* Typically, dizziness symptoms for mTBI are not treated with medication. Progressive rehabilitative exercises that focus on things like eye-tracking and balance are more commonly used due to their effectiveness. If you suspect that you have had an mTBI in the past year, please see a sports medicine doctor.

Source: Ming Pao

https://bit.ly/3ieElRu

Translated by: Hong Kong Echo

#PoliceBrutality #Aftermath #831 #HeadTrauma #PoliceState #AntiELAB