Dear Hong Kong: We Are With You 親愛的香港：我們支持您!
Artwork by Airam Dato-On. Original Photo (c): yulokchan
We write as Hong Kongers from the diaspora and those from other Asian backgrounds, united as people of faith, to express our concern and solidarity for the protests now taking place in Hong Kong.
我們希望與眾北美港藉及亞裔等信徒一起對香港「反送中」運動表達關注和聲援。
On June 9th, 2019, we witnessed over 1 million peaceful protestors openly express their opposition towards the extradition bill proposed by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). After the most recent wave of protest, in which close to 2 million (and 1)* Hong Kongers marched on June 16th to demand for Carrie Lam to step down as Chief Executive; for the promise that protesters will be exempt from prosecution; for Carrie Lam and the Hong Kong police to retract the mischaracterization of the protests as a “riot”; and ultimately, for the full withdrawal of the extradition bill, Hong Kongers have been handed a patronizing and misdirected apology and none of these demands have been met. This is an egregious insult to the people of Hong Kong all over the world. While the bill has now been suspended, its very presence poses an unprecedented threat to the constitutional principles upon which Hong Kong has been founded.
2019年6月9日，過百萬和平示威者上街反對修訂《逃犯條例》。6月16日，接近「200萬01」*名港民參與遊行，向港府提出以下要求：
1. 香港特別行政區行政長官林鄭月娥下台；
2. 政府和警方撤回「暴動」聲明；
3. 警方釋放被捕人士和撤銷檢控；
4. 政府完全撤回《逃犯條例》、而不是暫緩修例。
如今，雖然香港政府敷衍、居高臨下的表示特首致歉，香港人的訴求還是被漠視。政府的行為完全侮辱了遍佈世界各地的香港人。雖然香港特區政府已宣布暫緩推動修訂《逃犯條例》，只要修例未撤回和港民訴求未達到，香港應有與被承諾的自主權恐怕會逐漸消失。
We affirm the “One Country, Two Systems” constitutional principle that was implemented to secure a “high degree of autonomy” for Hong Kong over a period of 50 years after the handover in 1997. The principle was intended to safeguard Hong Kong’s judiciary, administrative, and economic systems. Over recent years, however, we have also witnessed the various attempts that have been made to undermine this autonomy - exhibited in the installation of only pro-Beijing candidates for the small committee election of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive position, the disqualification of pro-democracy legislative council members, the banning of a pro-independence political party, and the jailing of Umbrella Movement leaders, to name but a few. These developments reveal the deep extent to which Hong Kong’s autonomy has already been compromised. As a result, fear, distrust, and a sense of despair have been stoked amongst the people of Hong Kong, particularly amongst the youth.
我們支持「一國兩制」的原則──此原則本應讓香港1997年回歸後50年內保留高度自主，並尊重人權自由，繼續維持資本主義及民主的立法、司法、行政、經濟等制度。近年中華人民共和國一而再，再而三的干涉，已在香港年輕人之中造成恐懼、不信任和絕望。
We understand, as do the people of Hong Kong, that the proposed extradition amendment further compromises Hong Kong’s autonomy. It would enable the Chief Executive to circumvent the legislative council and extradite any individuals deemed to have exhibited anti-Beijing sentiments, or anyone regarded as unlawful under Mainland Chinese law. This would mean the end of free speech in Hong Kong. This would also mean that Mainland China will further extend its control of Hong Kong, violating the terms of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
眾香港人會比我們更明白修例對香港自主權的重大影響。修訂《逃犯條例》若強行通過，特首不用經立法會就能直接引渡任何中華人民共和國政府視為違法或有異見的人士，香港尚存的言論自由就這樣被消滅了。為了政治與經濟利益，香港特區政府已多次作出危害香港自主權的舉動，是次提出的《逃犯條例》亦不例外，港府再度為中共政府獻媚，試圖為中共在港伸延權力之時，嚴重地違反了1984年所簽訂的《中英聯合聲明》。
Beyond the grave implications of the extradition bill, we are further grieved by the excessive use of force exerted by the police over the course of the past week. What started as a peaceful march on June 9th became a battle scene as anti-riot police clashed with protestors as young as fifteen years old. On June 12th, the police fired rounds of rubber bullets, bean bag shots, and upwards of 150 canisters of tear gas into crowds of peaceful demonstrators as they exercised their right to express discontent towards the HKSAR Government and to defend their home.
我們更不能接受的是警方日前以暴力對待示威者，並過分使用武力。6月9日，連年幼至十五歲的示威者都被防暴警察衝擊；6月12日，防暴警察又發放橡膠子彈、布袋彈及超過150枚催淚彈，把和平示威變成戰鬥場面。香港市民向政府表示不滿、維護家園，不是天經地義嗎？
Despite fear, distrust, despair, and now the eruption of state-sanctioned violence, Hong Kongers have above all shown their determination and resilience. We have witnessed how Hong Kongers have come together from all walks of life: Tina Luk, the mother begging police officers to stop throwing canisters, with her arms out to show that she wasn’t dangerous; the students transmitting details of how to best organize themselves via an encrypted messaging system; the local restaurants handing out free food; the foreign journalists confronting police officers; the Legislative Council Member, Charles Mok facing off with police to condemn their actions; and the faith community singing hymns through the night. Hong Kong has come together, united and strong, casting age, income, class, and ethnicity aside to preserve Hong Kong’s autonomy.
香港人的決心和堅毅是不可否認的：身為母親的陸錦城懇求警察不要再發催淚彈；學生用各種安全的頻度發放遊行的計畫與細節；鄰近的餐廳把食物分給示威者；外來的記者和立法會議員莫乃光與警察對抗；還有，參與遊行的信徒一起唱聖詩。香港市民不論男女老幼、種族、階級都齊心協力維護香港的自主權。
We, the Hong Kongers and friends of Hong Kong who are far from its shores, would like to express our deep appreciation and solidarity for you who are at home defending its freedoms now. We see you, and we are indebted to you for the sacrifices that you have made by putting yourselves in the front lines. We regard the privilege that we hold as a diasporic community as a responsibility to be Hong Kongers wherever we go. Hong Kongers are determined, resilient, and our memories are long. We have no intention of letting anyone forget about Hong Kong's unique identity, and we commit to advocating for the needs of the people of Hong Kong. We condemn the violence that the Hong Kong police have inflicted on protestors, we ask for the guarantee that protestors will be exempt from any prosecution, we reject Carrie Lam and the police’s misnaming of the protests as “riots”, and we stand with the people of Hong Kong to call for a full withdrawal of the proposed extradition bill.
為香港爭取自由的市民：我們海外港人和關心香港的朋友全心全意支持您們！衷心感激您們站在前線作出的犧牲。我們雖在遠方，但也是有決心、堅毅的香港人；香港的核心價值和獨特的抗爭精神是值得保護和不能被遺忘的。我們在此承諾為香港的未來也付出努力。我們譴責警方對和平示威者的過度暴力；要求撤銷檢控示威者；拒絕特首和警方稱示威為「暴動」；與香港人一同堅持撤回修訂《逃犯條例》。
True democracy is a sacred thing. It is found when people come together and affirm that our lives and destinies are bound up together. As a body divinely united, we hurt with you and refuse to be silent in the face of this evil and injustice. We believe in a God who loves justice and acts on behalf of those stripped of power. We believe that faith can move mountains and change the hearts of our rulers. We cry “加油” (add oil), as we believe in a God who stokes the fires of freedom.
真正的民主是神聖的、是團結一致的。我們屬於基督的肢體，所以痛苦一起承擔，面對邪惡和不公正也絕對不能沈默。我們相信神是有著行公義、好憐憫的心，也相信祂會保護無力的人；信心可以把大山挪開，改變君主的心，因神是個燃起自由之火的神。我們呼喊：加油！
And so we join with you in holy protest, Hong Kong. We join in solidarity as siblings of Hong Kong from afar. Our battle cry is with yours. Our protest is with yours. Our fight for freedom and autonomy is with yours.
香港：我們以遠方弟兄姊妹的身份表示聲援；我們與您一起奮鬥，一起抗議，一起爭取自由和自主。
我們再次呼喊：香港加油 (Hong Kong, add oil!)
From the Progressive Asian American Christians diasporic community and friends of Hong Kong
*Remembering the loss of Mr. Leung, who had died on June 15th, 2019 after unfurling a banner in protest against the extradition bill. His memory and spirit was borne by those marching on the 16th. 「200萬01」之01人是紀念2019年6月15日墮樓死亡的抗爭者梁先生。