HK-American: Ask me anything

I don't accuse any HKer of doing that. The 1 worry I have about the culture emphasis is that it may antagonize the mainlanders that live in HK. Them living in HK is a chance for them to see something different from the Mainland. It's fine that anyone disagrees, but I hope China to become more democratic and this is something I like about the pan-dems is their emphasis on a democratic China. I think the only chance HK has is if China becomes more democratic.

We can share an identity that isn't around culture. Ideas such as democracy, human rights, equality, etc are what can bind a country. It doesn't have to be a specific race or culture. I will argue that the US is bound by a white-Western framework but I want that to change.

The chance that China becomes more democratic is slim. Trump is right about one thing - China is the main enemy of the world. What I fear the most is that China is already grown too strong and nothing can stop him. The world already miss the change to take down CCP.

I don't think these ideas have enough strength to pull people back together. I still think the failure of creating a common culture and identity will tear the whole country apart. But fair enough I respect your opinion. I guess only time can tell. But I do think US has the most potential of achieving what you just said as the whole country was built by immigrants and melting cultures. It's basically like a blank page. But this idea won't work in nation states like most of the Europe and South East Asia.

Umm I think I need to share how mainlanders live and view HK. I have several mainlander friends before the protests and my workplace (Uni) is full of Chinese.
They form their own circle and they rely on CCP media even when they are in HK. Their media frame story that promote hatred against HKers. Hatred against foreign countries / their influence on HK is what keeps CCP in power. Our actions will not affect how mainlanders view us, and even if we are nice to them they’ll not accept our values. They are taught Chinese values are the best. The COVID thing even strengthened their view that CCP> democracy.

And I also have to disagree that democracy helps HK survival. Catalonian have to fight against the Spanish government, which is democratic. A democratic China is more of a threat to HK since the world will turn a blind eye to their acts to eliminate HK culture.

Pan-dem is done politically in HK especially in the younger generation since their ideal of spreading democracy into mainland China in the past 30 years have failed miserably. Many protestors even cheered their departure from LegCo because it was a wake-up slap from their China fantasies.

What HK need for survival (from Chinese assimilation) is independence. It is impossible unless China is severely weakened, or even disintegrate. Spreading democracy into China will not make it implode. We need external factors to make it explode. Trade war and sanctions against those in power are the first steps to the right direction.

The CCP knows exactly what threatens them the most so the new national security law specifically prohibits independence movements, label any cultural movements as threat to national safety, prohibits our request to foreign parties for sanctions etc. It does not, however, stop our communication with mainland Chinese or prohibit mentioning democracy to them.

The knife that is tearing America apart is the loss of faith in election integrity and also lack of communication between the left and the right. The mainstream media is also not helping as they tend to cut the White House speech, announcing the President-elect while the race is not yet over etc.

Also @HISCASTDT if you don’t mind, which media do you usually read?

If you may, please do watch this as the whole interview is in English.
Basically the African American says that Trump is not racist and done a lot of right things for foreign affairs.

https://youtu.be/R42NFIv3ntw

Yes it is from NTD and I trust it OKKK

Why'd you start using LIHKG?
You probably can't read it, but do you think it's weird that HK has lots of trump's die hard supporters?

I have relatives that live in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley area. We call that area 626 after the area code. Lot of Chinese in that area because a lot of Chinese-Americans moved away from Chinatown and a lot of more recent arrivals from Taiwan, HK, and Mainland.

Immigrants to new places often carry the values of the home country. Even small things e.g. I think Americans have way too much personal space. Few times I take public transit no one is willing to squish. I find catching the MTR at admiralty during rush hour to be a fun experience. The emphasis on individualism and "freedom" in the West is what is the problem not democracy. Taiwan has done great. For Western countries, Australia and New Zealand have done really well.

I think the pan-dems never fought hard enough even if I agree with their policies and ideas (though economically I am much more to the left). I find much more agreement with the localists in terms of strategy and I think they are good at diagnosing problems I may disagree with their solutions or the cause of the problems. The whole only peaceful protest thing is bs, we got nothing changed with the Umbrella Movement. Still pan dems never defended the localists like they should of. I am sad about LegCo though they made the right decision to leave (I say that as someone who wanted them to stay at first). I as someone that leans more pan-dem acknowledge the pro-democracy fight has long moved past LegCo. I will counter Catalonia situation with Quebec and Scotland. Canada and the UK gave Quebec and Scotland an independence referendum and the voters chose to remain in Canada and the UK.

They are now labeling the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (香港市民支援愛國民主運動聯合會) potentially in violation of NSL so promoting democracy in China may also be a violation of NSL now. The basic law's protections are not robust enough as the HK legal system never will have final adjudication.

To connect better with HKers and understand their perspective. The HKers I know are mostly intl students studying in the west so that may not be representative of the entire population. I want to share some perspectives on the US but in a way that is not condescending and I hope that by having some understanding of HK issues it will be more productive than some white person yelling to you. I do read some other posts via google translate but hit or miss that it makes any sense.

I appreciate you all asking questions and willing to communicate in English. For those that don't know English that want to ask question, google translate your question and I'll answer it.

Not actually. Trump has the perception of being tough on China so I see why HKers would like him. I used to be conservative for a long time so I understand his domestic appeal as well.

But I'm able to learn more about what HKers are fighting for and their reflections on the movement and it makes more sense why so many like Trump.

From MSM sources I try to read NYT and NPR. On conservative sources I will read Fox and National Review (a conservative magazine). There are also 2 left wing youtube channels I watch which counters the MSM. MSM is centrist democrat (Biden, Hillary) while the youtube channels (links below) are very much in the progressive Bernie Sanders wing. I also read BBC as I think its important to know what people outside US think about America.
https://www.youtube.com/c/SecularTalk
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheYoungTurks

HK news I read RTHK, HKFP, and Lausan (https://lausan.hk/) though this is just because English media in HK is limited. SCMP has a paywall now but was garbage anyways (Alex Lo is just terrible).

First off, I think the Democrats have taken the black vote for granted. They haven't done that much honestly (though Republicans are by far worse for minorities). I'll comment that this person is also very America-centric and that there is no freedom of speech outside the US is incorrect.

I think US is involved in too many wars and yes I am happy Trump didn't launch new ones. We almost have war with Iran because he assassinated their general and Iran was just smart not to go to war. Iran has more nuclear material than under Obama when the Iran deal was probably one of his best accomplishments. North Korea is still just as much as a threat as it was pre-Trump, his talks have accomplished nothing. People that need welfare are not lazy, they need help. Welfare should not be seen as a negative, this is the flaw of a capitalistic framework. Like the CSSA in HK is way too minimal. Domestically, he has been sympathetic to white supremacists and is not doing anything to combat racism. Criminal justice reform was good and is probably his only accomplishment.

Even just on China issue alone I don't think Trump's approach is helpful. You need the West together: Canada, UK, EU, Australia, etc to do things along with Asia-Pacific allies: Japan, South Korea, etc. Trump has pissed off American allies so it undermines his China strategy. Trump is attacking China because it threatens Western control of the world, nothing else. This provides a good cover for his racism see his kung-flu comment and questioning a Chinese-American reporter.

Many of you never lived in the west but no Westerner honestly is going to care about the distinction between HKer and Chinese. Actually, consider it lucky they identify you as Chinese rather than just "Asian."

Interesting. Why were you conservative growing up in Cali?

Well i wont say it’s the best but consider the price and quality, its the best value

I grew up in a religious family so Republicans appealed to me on social issues like gay marriage and abortion. I liked the Republicans as they seemed to protect against "secularism" and preserving American culture from immigrants. Economically I was very capitalist and wanted low taxes, limited regulation much like what we have in HK. In 2012 I cried when Mitt Romney lost and I was an avid Fox News viewer through secondary school.
(And yes it is ironic I once opposed gay marriage and I'm gay, my family rarely talked about LGBT issues and if so it was only in a negative manner. I never put the fact that I thought men were attractive/cute to mean that I'm gay). I didn't like Trump much because I thought he mocked Christians in the 2016 primary and because he was against free trade as a person that was very pro-capitalist.

In my time at university I gradually moved to the left on social issues and became pro-immigration, frowned upon the culture wars (google Fox News War on Christmas), and became supportive of LGBT rights. I still supported capitalism and it wasn't until I spent time in HK during the 2019 Summer that I became disillusioned with capitalism.

Oh good having to see an American here is refreshing. As your neighbor up north of 49th, many fellow Canadians share the same view as you do. As a Canadian who closely following the events unfolding back in my birthplace, as well as the political dramas in the US, I am fortunate we have a greater population of critical thinkers like you.

Yea there are better burgers but for the price and being fast food its great.
Even Gordon Ramsay likes it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GicbaeHS7cQ&ab_channel=LiveSigning

Ah thanks appreciate it. Only been to Canada a few times but the best Chinese food I've had in North America was in Richmond, BC. Lots of HK immigrants there from the pre 1997 immigration wave.

I think us overseas HKers can be disconnected from the reality in HK so it is important to get in touch with HKers that still live in HK.
I also think that people with different ideas need to talk and I know LIHKG is more pro-Trump. A lot of my HK friends are more on the left but that may not be reality and it is easy to be in an echo chamber.

I think us overseas HKers can be disconnected from the reality in HK so it is important to get in touch with HKers that still live in HK.
I also think that people with different ideas need to talk and I know LIHKG is more pro-Trump. A lot of my HK friends are more on the left but that may not be reality and it is easy to be in an echo chamber.

I think us overseas HKers can be disconnected from the reality in HK so it is important to get in touch with HKers that still live in HK.
I also think that people with different ideas need to talk and I know LIHKG is more pro-Trump. A lot of my HK friends are more on the left but that may not be reality and it is easy to be in an echo chamber.