Facing the Invisible Tank: A Hong Kong Group's Fight to Restore Dignity to Political Prisoners

このページを日本語で読む

In this five-part series, JAPAN Forward profiles individuals in Hong Kong who are standing up against the far-reaching impact of the National Security Law. The final installment, Part 5, focuses on Yu Yat, an organization dedicated to supporting ex-prisoners from the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

In early June, I met a 45-year-old man who had just been released from a Hong Kong prison in April. The man had been arrested while attempting to rescue students from Hong Kong Polytechnic University during the most intense clashes of the 2019 anti-government protests. He tried to help them escape by car but was arrested and sentenced to 22 months in prison. During our conversation, he shared details about his life after prison:

— What work are you doing now?
"I gather odd jobs like car washing, air conditioning cleaning, and carrying goods, which I share with my companions."

— Who do you work with?
"About ten people, aged 22 to 50, who were also released from prison."

— What work did you do before your arrest?
"I worked in construction. I haven't contacted my previous company or clients."

— Is there social discrimination?
"Of course there is. And there always will be. So my dream is to move to the United Kingdom and start my life over."

— Has society changed?
"About 70% of the people I was close to have moved abroad. That's 70%. There's no one to talk to anymore. It's hard to adjust back to society. Right now, I can only focus on living in the present."

*A banner reading "Five Years since Implementation of the National Security Law" stands out against a shuttered store in Hong Kong. (©Sankei by Kinya Fujimoto)*

Preventing 'Social Death'

An organization that aims to support such people is "如一" (Yu Yat, lit "As One" or "Unified"). Based in the Kowloon district, it helps individuals arrested during the 2019 pro-democracy protests. The group sells coffee, wine, ready-made foods, and other products online, using the profits to provide services such as delivering goods to incarcerated individuals. To date, about 700 people have used the organization.

The organization's representative, Mak Chui Yi, 29, shared insights about their work, five years after the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law.

"This year, we started a program to support employment for young people who have been released from prison, she said.

However, with Hong Kong's economy not fully recovered, finding companies willing to hire ex-prisoners is no easy task. Adviser Yau Si Chung, 33, commented: "It's important to make sure society doesn't forget about prisoners and ex-prisoners. We need to prevent their 'social death.'"

*Anti-government demonstration held in Hong Kong in 2019. (©Sankei by Kinya Fujimoto)*

Ex-Prisoners' Stories

To highlight the voices of ex-prisoners, Yu Yat began a podcast in 2025. The show features the stories of those who have been released from prison. Former pro-democracy district councilor, Lancelot Chan Wing-tai, 61, is the host. He himself is an ex-prisoner.

In June 2020, Chan was arrested and prosecuted for calling for a protest against the National Security Law, which was implemented that night. He was sentenced to prison and spent about 10 months behind bars, being released in May 2023.

Chan shared, "I want not only to help citizens understand the feelings of those released from prison but also to tell them personally, 'Don't worry! You'll be able to live a normal life.'"

He also wants to convey something else to both ex-prisoners and today's youth: "Don't [recklessly] put yourself in a situation where you'll be arrested. Now is the time to gather your strength."

Personal and Political Pressure

Yu Yat was established in 2022. Mak, the representative, had never participated directly in the protests or run for election. She simply worked in the office of a pro-democracy district councilor. To avoid attracting attention from the authorities, it was necessary for someone without strong pro-democracy affiliations to take the role of the representative.

After much consideration, she took on the role of leading Yu Yat. "Someone had to do it," Mak said.

Recently, she said she feels "pressure" as she sees her friends advancing in their careers. However, she emphasized, "The most important thing is to continue the work of Yu Yat even as it has become more difficult. I am satisfied with that."

Facing the Invisible Tank

Yau Si Chung, though a pro-democracy activist, revealed that after becoming involved with Yu Yat, he was encouraged to "focus more on financial matters than on his own beliefs" and that this led to "internal conflict."

When asked about the impact of the National Security Law after five years, Yau responded, "Now Hong Kong is a place where speech can be a crime. I don't think Hong Kong will ever return to what it was before [the implementation of the NSL]."

But he added, with a touch of hope, "There are still Hong Kong people who are trying to slow down the pace of Hong Kong's sinicization."

Indeed, there are people in Hong Kong, like Chan, Mak, and Yau, who continue to stand firm in front of the invisible tank, resisting powers that seek to suppress the truth by force.