| Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times | |||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 光復香港，時代革命 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 光复香港，时代革命 | ||||||||||||
| Cantonese Yale | Gwōngfuhk Hēunggóng, sìhdoih gaakmihng | ||||||||||||
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"Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" (Chinese: 光復香港，時代革命; also translated variously) is a slogan used by social movements in Hong Kong. The slogan was first used in 2016 by Hong Kong Indigenous spokesman Edward Leung as his campaign theme and slogan for the 2016 New Territories East by-election. He emphasised that anyone could take part in innovation and change regardless of age, hence the use of the phrase "revolution of our times." In the legislative election held later that year, Youngspiration, which was cooperating with Hong Kong Indigenous as Leung was banned from running by the Electoral Affairs Commission, also used the slogan for their campaign.
The slogan underwent a resurgence in 2019 as Hongkongers started using it for the protests against Hong Kong's extradition bill, leading to international attention. Annie Zhang, the former editor in chief of Initium Media, said the slogan was a strong wish for an escalation of tactics and a revolution, stating the wish of protesters for "Hong Kong to become a Hong Kong for Hongkongers." In contrast, former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Tung Chee-hwa, pro-Beijing political parties, editor of the Global Times Hu Xijin, and Xinhua News Agency consider the slogan to involve Hong Kong independence and test the principle of "one country, two systems."
The Hong Kong government announced in an official statement on 2 July 2020 that anyone who uses the slogan can be prosecuted under the national security law which commenced on 30 June 2020.[1]
On 27 July 2021, in a landmark ruling, the first person to be charged under the law of "incitement to secession" for displaying a banner bearing the slogan was found guilty. The court ruling stated that such display of the words constituted incitement of others to commit secession.[2]
- ^ Davidson, Helen (2 July 2020). "'Liberate Hong Kong' slogan banned as protesters lie low". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ Lindberg, Kari Soo (27 July 2021). "Hong Kong Court Convicts Man Over Slogan Chanted by Thousands". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.