An exhibition documenting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong against a now-withdrawn extradition bill opened yesterday in Taipei, with a theme that says Hong Kong protesters should be as resilient as water.
Among the exhibits at the opening in the Bopiliao Historic Block (剝皮寮歷史街區) in Wanhua District (萬華) is a statue titled Hong Kong Goddess of Democracy, which portrays a female protester during last year’s rallies, and a banner with the words “be water” — a quote from late actor Bruce Lee (李小龍) that became a protest slogan.
Hong Kong Outlanders spokeswoman Justine said that the large 23kg banner is iconic, as it embodies the voices of Hong Kongers from all 18 districts in the territory.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Another spokesperson for the group, who wished only to be identified as English, said that just as dripping water eventually erodes away a rock, so shall Hong Kongers’ determination prevail over tyranny.
Justine said the exhibition took six months for the group to prepare and she hopes it could eventually tour the nation, to allow more Taiwanese to learn about Hong Kongers’ quest for democracy.
Causeway Bay Books owner Lam Wing-kei (林榮基), who attended the opening, cited the example of Jews forming Israel as a model, saying that Hong Kongers do not have to be in Hong Kong to liberate the territory.
Adolf Hitler killed 6 million Jews during World War II, prompting them to flee Germany and later found Israel, which is an example Hong Kongers could follow, Lam said.
He is optimistic about Hong Kongers rebuilding Hong Kong from elsewhere in the world, he said, adding that Hong Kong does not have to represent a geographic location.
Although Taiwan is an ideal place from which to rebuild Hong Kong, uncertainties loom, including China’s attempts to infiltrate and annex the nation and the self-identity of some Taiwanese, Lam said.
Some Taiwanese identify as Taiwanese and Chinese and consider it acceptable to do China’s bidding, he said, adding that this presents problems for the nation.
The Mainland Affairs Council has introduced the Hong Kong Humanitarian Assistance Action Plan, but its legal status is undetermined, Taiwan Association for Human Rights secretary-general Shih Yi-hsiang (施逸翔) said.
The council should clarify the review procedure for applications prospective Hong Kong immigrants submit and introduce a mechanism for civil participation when offering Hong Kongers assistance, he said.
Only by setting clear rules can Taiwan truly support Hong Kong, he said.
The exhibition is open every day from 9am to 6pm until July 5.
Additional reporting by CNA
CAUTION: Based on intelligence from the nation’s security agencies, MOFA has cautioned Taiwanese travelers about heightened safety risks in China-friendly countries The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday urged Taiwanese to be aware of their safety when traveling abroad, especially in countries that are friendly to China. China in June last year issued 22 guidelines that allow its courts to try in absentia and sentence to death so-called “diehard” Taiwanese independence activists, even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction in Taiwan. Late last month, a senior Chinese official gave closed-door instructions to state security units to implement the guidelines in countries friendly to China, a government memo and a senior Taiwan security official said, based on information gathered by Taiwan’s intelligence agency. The
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said yesterday that it is looking to hire 8,000 people this year, at a time when the tech giant is expanding production capacity to maintain its lead over competitors. To attract talent, TSMC would launch a large-scale recruitment campaign on campuses across Taiwan, where a newly recruited engineer with a master’s degree could expect to receive an average salary of NT$2.2 million (US$60,912), which is much higher than the 2023 national average of NT$709,000 for those in the same category, according to government statistics. TSMC, which accounted for more than 60 percent
Tung Tzu-hsien (童子賢), a Taiwanese businessman and deputy convener of the nation’s National Climate Change Committee, said yesterday that “electrical power is national power” and nuclear energy is “very important to Taiwan.” Tung made the remarks, suggesting that his views do not align with the country’s current official policy of phasing out nuclear energy, at a forum organized by the Taiwan People’s Party titled “Challenges and Prospects of Taiwan’s AI Industry and Energy Policy.” “Taiwan is currently pursuing industries with high added- value and is developing vigorously, and this all requires electricity,” said the chairman
‘POOP ON STAGE’: The song, which talks about the reluctance to graduate and anxiety about a lack of job opportunities, resonated with many students’ feelings The original song Poop on Stage has been chosen as National Taiwan University’s (NTU) graduation song this year, sparking much debate regarding the song’s title and content, which describes students’ anxiety about post-graduation unemployment. The title, Shang Tai Da Bian (上台大便), is a play on words that literally means “go on stage to poop.” The first three characters, shang tai da (上台大), also mean “to attend NTU,” as “Taida” is a common abbreviation for the university. The last character, bian (便), can mean “convenient” or “then,” but is more commonly associated with defecation. The lyrics of the song describe students’ reluctance to graduate and
RSS