[Interview on the 2nd anniversary of 831] A 19-year-old commemorates 831 in his youngest days
Translated by Guardians of Hong Kong – October 4, 2021Two years ago on 31 Aug, a lot of policemen entered Prince Edward Station to chase after and beat up protesters. They were criticized for committing violence against civilians. Simon, aged 17 at that time, was one of the injured in the event.
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Around 10pm on 31 Aug 2019, Simon was heading home but encountered some conflicts. He was scared when the alarm bells in the station were ringing non-stop. He went to the opposite platform and entered an MTR train from Tsuen Wan towards Central. Then he was struck three times by a stick in the back of his head. His running blood stained his white T-shirt. He was taken to the hospital later. His wound was treated with 14 stitches, leaving three long scars.
“After two years of searching, I’m unable to identify the police officer (who beat me on that day) ...... I suffered a lot but no one responsible takes up accountability.” Simon feels helpless.
730 days later, he was nineteen and studied in his preferred choice - Chinese University of Hong Kong, working hard to be an independent adult. In Jul 2021, he decided to withdraw his civil claim against Hong Kong Police due to huge personal pressure and helpless feeling.
Initially, Simon solely wanted to find out the truth of the event for Hongkongers. However, he felt enormous pressure during the long process. Experienced lawyer shared that civil claims normally take 5-6 years and do not resolved quickly. It gave him pressure in his life via difficulties to balance between academic work and legal proceedings.
Apart from pressure, he felt helpless. He could not retrieve necessary information required by the legal proceeding. “When the government is non-cooperative, you could do nothing as an ordinary citizen.” He admits that he feels guilty giving up his legal action.
After signing some document, we went to revisit the scene - Prince Edward Station. When asked whether he thinks the truth has drifted further away, Simon replied, “I can only treat it as a long dream. We all have to wake up and face the reality. I won’t say the city has lost all hope, because hope comes from peoples’ hearts.”
Every year on 31 Aug, Simon will still stand up, and share his encounter and injury that day, “because I did nothing wrong. Every Hongkonger should fight to keep their memory”. Why didn’t the report compiled by Independent Police Complaints Council (PCC) include interviews with the injured? Why did Police state that they successfully identified some rioters disguised as ordinary passengers? These questions linger in his heart for two year but he cannot find out the answers.
Some injuries get cured on the surface but stay in the heart forever.
Source: The Stand News #Aug30
Reporter: MOK Kwun-ling
Cameras: Ramsey AU, LAU Tsz-hong
Video Clipping: LAU Tsz-hong
Art work: LAU Yan-hin
#AntiELAB #MTR #Aug31