21 Comments

I remember the time we met at your South End home with Adam. It was welcoming and chic. Since then I’ve followed your ups and downs, your dedication to mastering Mandarin. Then came the troubles. Which you documented as best you could while maintaining your separation from direct involvement. Events piled on and you were imprisoned and it became so difficult to know what was happening to you. You opened my eyes to the cruelties Beijing inflicted on HK, including its destruction of the rule of law and the 2/2 agreements. You survived your mistreatment of that system. You witnessed how others were crushed too.

Now your heart tells you you are a man without a country in a sense. What you are doing to alert the powers that be here in the country of your birth is both salutary for freedom yet grinding you. You do need to care for yourself. And you have your partner and loyal dog to keep you reminded. Do concentrate on completing a narrative. It will be an authoritative source for many.

Do consider bringing your messages directly to Chinese and HK and Taiwanese students in the US and Canada. Washington University in St Louis has a sizable population. Should that interest you, I believe I can facilitate.

In the meantime, Spring is coming to the Potomac. May the warmth and the beauty of the cherry trees comfort you. This wonderful gift from Japan. Blessings to you and your family.

Expand full comment

Thanks a lot, Andrew. Writing and sharing with this community is an important form of self-care as well!

Expand full comment

You're a true friend of Hong Kong. I couldn't hold back my tears while reading this, you speak my mind out. Stick to your plan, pal, and don't give up.

Expand full comment

Thanks a lot, Raymond. Don't give up as well. Take care.

Expand full comment

Hi Samuel, thanks for your sharing. We share some common HK prison experiences for I was put into jail for 2 months in 2021 for initiating a peaceful protest in 2020. I have been residing in the UK since July of 2021. I have also not stopped fighting for freedom and justice for HK, although my contribution is extremely minor. Hope to see you someday in the US or the UK or any free place in the world. Let us be united and keep fighting together!

Expand full comment

No contribution is minor. Just keeping it alive and going is huge. And if you're keeping in touch with those you know in prison via letters, that means the world to them as you know from your time in there. Share your experience with others in the UK if you can. Really appreciate all the comments and feedback you share here as well.

Expand full comment

I have done many small things in my fighting path, including sharing my experiences through various opportunities (the most recent one was directed to a few interested attendees of a conference held in Cambridge in March). In the UK, as everybody knows, there are quite a number of pro-democracy HongKongers. We have been "doing something" from time to time.

Expand full comment

Hi Sam, it’s very touching and we are all feeling the same, it’s difficult, painful to see how Hong Kong is becoming unrecognizable. Yes, please document what you experienced there and share with us what you have been working on. it would be very valuable and look forward to hearing your book coming out soon

Expand full comment

Thanks Miulan, I think it's really important for all of us who went through these things to document what we can. I definitely will. And let's keep fighting.

Expand full comment

You give up carefree existence: "Traveling the world, doing a bit of no-strings online consulting when needed, and live a worry-free life". You prefer to keep the life purpose that the fight has given you. You offer your whole life!! May God bless you and your family.

Expand full comment

Thanks Mark, and same to you as well.

Expand full comment

Add oil my friend. Thank you for all that you have done for HK freedom. Please keep in touch. ☂️☂️☂️

Expand full comment

Yes that trauma hits so many of us … let’s keep that fire in our hearts! The steps are small but do make the way home ! Endless 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Expand full comment

Forever thankful for your sacrifice and now the ongoing hardwork. Have been following news about you from day one in HK, and now we have also moved back to the US.

Expand full comment

Glad that you've resettled, but I know it can be hard. Take care of yourself as well.

Expand full comment

We feel what you feel Samuel. The pain is so dreadful because you love Hong Kong so much. As you said for most HK dispora the guilty feeling will probably stay with us forever. Nonetheless need to take good care of both your physical and emitonal health - as it is a long fight and to fight a good fight we all need a strong body and mind.

Expand full comment

Your writing gives me goosebumps as I am also on exodus to a foreign country with my dear family. I look forward to the publication of your book which can for sure unravel to all westerners and the int'l stage the true side of everything about this eroding place in a way as astonishing as 'Red Roulette by Desmond Shum'.

Expand full comment

Sam, thanks again for your love to Hong Kong, it means so much to those like myself who choose to stay... May God continue to bless you today, and always 💛

Expand full comment

🙋🏻‍♂️ I am procrastinating on my book too....

Expand full comment

It's definitely difficult, but a worthy goal--I look forward to the day yours is published and I can read it!

Expand full comment

Thank you for sharing what a lot of us feel for leaving HK while we did. Longing, sadness, PTSD, knowing the fight is not over, and also helplessness and hopelessness whenever we see the latest oppressive news. Thank you for continuing to fight with advocacy, with writing. I love that this work gives you purpose. Keep fighting and keep going. I look forward to reading your book.

Expand full comment