All language subtitles for Revolution of Our Times (2021)

(To protect the characters in the film)

(Masked interviewees' voices
are altered with a special process)

(Some of the interviewees have lost contact
after the recording of their interview)

(Thus, they are replaced by actors on screen)

(1997, Britain formally transferred Hong Kong
sovereignty to China)

(The Sino-British Joint Declaration promises)

(Hong Kong will pursue one country, two systems)

(Apart from foreign and national defense affairs)

(Hong Kong shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy)

(2017, The Chinese Foreign Ministry:
"The Sino-British Joint Declaration)

(As an historical document,
no longer has any practical significance)

(And it is not at all binding)

(For the Chinese Central Government's
management over Hong Kong")

(2019, The Hong Kong government
amended the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance)

(The whole city protested on June 9)

(More than 1 million people rallied)

(But the government insisted
on passing the bill in Legco on June 12)

(June 12, Outside
the Hong Kong Legislative Council Building)

Withdraw!

June 12, around 7 am

Someone called me

"Wake Up!
We've marched onto Harcourt Road!"

Start so early? Hongkongers?

Hey, over there, come over!

Lam Cheuk-ting: Let's work hard

Lam Cheuk-ting: Withdraw! (Withdraw!)

Fugitive Offenders Ordinance,
immediately raised a red flag

Can Hongkongers be extradited

To the Mainland at will for trials in the future?

One country, two systems is Hong Kong's legal system

Separated from the legal system in the Mainland

If the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance is passed

The legal systems of the two places
would seem to be merged

If the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance can be passed

All Hong Kong people will lose their personal safety

The real battlefield

Not in the legislative council!

Yes!

Withdraw! (Withdraw!)

Perhaps, we don't know.
Maybe this is a tactic to buy time

We'll find out

We first started by getting a team of drivers

To block the road and pretend to have an accident

A few cars blocked the road

Trying to impede police reinforcements

We are drivers. I'm one of the coordinators

It turns out that we can use our cars for a cause

It's a great inspiration and motivation for me

As a high school student

I didn't really care about politics

I first time I joined the rally was on June 12

Then suddenly, there was a voice behind me

I turned around

And saw a friend
from the Umbrella Movement 5 years ago

"You are here?"

Suddenly, he gives me "that" pair of gloves
from his backpack

He asked me, “do you have it?“ then gives them to me

That pair really were the same ones from 5 years ago

So it turns out that we weren't chilling for 5 years

We were just dormant

Like a dormant volcano, it will erupt

Everyone will come out again

Hongkongers! (Add Oil!)

June 12, when the tear gas was fired

I didn't have any gear

It was the first time I inhaled tear gas

The police fired without raising the black flag

My right eye was hit and I was bleeding

I don't know what's going to happen to my eyesight

(Do you know what kind of gun it was?)

No, but it wasn't metal, more like a rubber bullet

Many were scared. I came over and saw many kids

There were children, elders, and ordinary citizens

If they were your children coming out

And I beat them repeatedly

How would you feel?

I don't want this to become
the next June 4 Tiananmen Square!

Stop throwing! Don't!

(Fuck! They threw tear gas into the crowd!)

(Run!)

(What did he do?)

The riot police were not just a bit out of control

They were too nervous

I felt obligated to remind them

I decided to set up a team of social workers that night

To serve that purpose at the scene

To bring back a sense of justice to our social work

(June 12 evening,
LegCo announced the cancellation of the meeting)

(Chief Executive Carrie Lam called the incident a “riot")

(And insisted that the amendment will not be "withdrawn")

The original intention of this amendment

I still think it's the right decision

I don't think it can be withdrawn at this stage

At the time I had a very selfish thought

This movement will end when someone dies

(3 days later)

(Leung Ling-kit committed suicide
by jumping off a building)

(He was the first casualty
of the "Anti-Extradition Movement“)

(He was wearing a yellow raincoat displaying the words)

("Carrie Lam killed Hong Kong.
Cops were cold blooded.“)

The Leung Ling-kit incident was

The first time blood was shed
in a Hong Kong social movement

It officially planted the democratic movement in this city

The blood of Hong Kong people
has been spilled on this land

As a result, someone really died

But nothing happened

The government did nothing

I felt that many were in a deep sense of despair

That's why I chose to go to the front line

The whole month of June in Hong Kong

Was wrapped in an unimaginable
tendency of self destruction

Many young people wanted to die,
wanted to jump off buildings

That determination and intolerance for injustice

Have reached such a point

(Miss Wu, 29)

(Mr. Mui, 32)

(Mr. Kei, 16)

It's not just despair

There's a strong belief behind it

To my understanding

They wanted to use their deaths

To wake up the Hong Kong people

Hongkongers! (Add Oil!)

(June 16, 2 million and "one" participated in the rally)

(The organizers stated that)

(The extra "one person"
was the departed Mr. Leung Ling-kit)

In my limited knowledge

I've never heard of a social movement

That can trigger a wave of suicides

That kind of despair can only be healed

With a "movement" that opens up new possibilities

There are 7 million people in Hong Kong

two sevenths of our people came out to march

That's 2 million people

No place in the world has clone anything like this

But Hong Kong is such a small place
with 7 million people

Can accomplish such an incredible feat

In this rally, nearly 2 million and "one" participated

It shows that our people are very angry

The people of Hong Kong will not accept

Carrie Lam's response on yesterday's incidents

I read a quote on the internet

"Young people are chosen by the times“

But I would ask

Everyone living in Hong Kong today

Why are we the only ones chosen by the times?

We were not chosen

We chose to come out

(July 1, 22nd Anniversary of the Establishment)

(Of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)

(The flag-raising ceremony was held
at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai)

(For the first time, guests have to move indoors
to watch the ceremony)

(The government explained that
it was because of the weather)

The handover, the condition
was to have a democratic system

Ensuring that a high degree of autonomy can be guaranteed

Hong Kong can't be democratized

It's impossible to maintain freedom and the rule of law

When we marched to Admiralty

We were separated in two directions

Some students said continue to Central
and the rally will end

But if you want to support the students

You better go to the LegCo Building

What's more important? The students or the rally?

At first, we anticipated that in the 1997 handover

A democratic election system
would be fully implemented

Then it changed to 10 years after 1997

We accepted 10 years

But the CCP officials said

"No, not so fast, we will give it to you in 2017!"

That's another 10 years later

After so many years, we've reached 2019

Forget about it. You can't trust the CCP

Let's not just sit here

Let's start to organize our defense

Let's call people

Let's gather supplies

It's that simple! (OK!)

The first time I picked up
the gloves and helmet was July 1

Carrie Lam taught us that peaceful protest was useless

We promote civil disobedience
that's peaceful and non-violent

We don't agree with such behaviors like attacking LegCo

Like breaking glass windows

We call this type "the Valiant"

Not too good

Stay calm

Don't rush, stay calm

LegCo Member - Roy Kwong: Please listen to me

Protester: Are you afraid you can't go to work?

LegCo Member - Roy Kwong: Can you let me talk?

LegCo Member - Roy Kwong: We have agreed

No division, no distancing

LegCo Member - Kwok Ka-ki:
What's the point of charging into LegCo?

Protester: We are about to go to work

Protester: When you're in a meeting, we'll be working

LegCo Member - Kwok Ka-ki:
What are you going to do there?

LegCo Member - Ted Hui: Calm down first!

We're not saying peace is necessarily right

And attacking is necessarily wrong

But we have to choose the right time

Protester: We know we'll get arrested

Just let us handle it!

If I were there

I'd probably stop them from breaking the glass

Another motive might be that

Some LegCo members were worried

That they would get arrested for rioting

Please help to pass it over

Whether the police were playing
“empty fort strategy" or retreating

Because they abandoned their post

There was a possibility of a surprise strike

People go in. Thanks!

I wanted to go that night

I couldn't help myself

Someone stopped me

I asked some protesters

They said: Actually we were also very scared

But they feel that the struggle
is the only way to gain freedom

(Withdraw)

Hong Kong's LegCo has
never been occupied by protesters

I think that was an historic moment

Seeing that image moved me

Like there's hope, not for the movement

Like a light at the end of darkness

The Valiants love Hong Kong more than we do

The price they're willing to pay is greater

For us, our jail time is 16 months at most

For them, it's 10 years!

(Withdraw the wicked law)

This group of people are very civilized

Everyone has a backpack or a bag

Why not steal something?

We're masked, how'd you know who we are?

But Hongkongers won't do that,
we always have discipline

Some go to kitchens to find food,
they'd get scolded

Some leave money

The destruction of the system,
the excess of totalitarianism

By comparison, the destruction of properties
is not excessive

If someone wants to stay till the last minute

Go to the podium and discuss it

The people who are staying, please gather there

There were about 300 people in the chamber

After much discussion, many wanted to leave

Then Brian Leung took his mask off
and came up to speak

At this moment, we're not a flash-mob

Because occupying LegCo
is a once in a lifetime opportunity

We can't turn back

The more people we have here, the safer we'll be

I took off my mask because I want you to know

Hongkongers can't lose anymore

If we lose again, think about it. It'll be 10 years

Our civil society will sink to the ground

(We know!)

(We're with you!)

(Good!)

Occupied! (Occupied!)

We the occupiers at LegCo
now officially announce our "5 Demands“

1. Full withdrawal of the extradition bill

2. Retract the classification of protesters as "rioters"

3. Amnesty for all arrested protesters
from before and the future

4. Thorough investigation
into police brutality and abuse of power

Organize an independent commission of inquiry

And finally, we feel the root of the problem

Is that Hong Kong has yet to have universal suffrage

For LegCo and the Chief Executive

So we demand that the 2020 Legislative Council election

Will have universal suffrage

We reached a climax at that moment in the chamber

There were still dozens of people staying behind

But when Brian Leung left

Maybe they thought it wasn't worthwhile anymore

My friends kept asking me to leave

But someone's got to take one more step further

Even if the police come in and arrest us

That's something too

Today we march in here, but yet we just leave

How can we sustain the movement tomorrow?

LegCo Member - Ted Hui:
I'm very calm, I can control myself

I'm asking the police to calm down

I'm asking the police to calm down

(Get out!)

Chan Hong Siu: Calm down a bit first

LegCo Member - Ted Hui: Restraint! Restraint!

Students are leaving

Restraint!

A girl asked: Can you lend me a megaphone?

She didn't even know how to turn on a microphone

Or the loudspeaker

But she really wanted to tell everyone to stay

If everyone left

there would be no one
to protect the people in the chamber

No one wanted to abandon them

We just wanted to wait for them and leave together

There were rumors that the police
would march in there by midnight

Everyone was scared

The people in the chamber will die

(Let's go together!)

(Let's go! Take them!)

We were saying: What's the matter?

Why did so many people come into the chamber?

To support us again?

For a second there, we were excited

Then I found out that they were pulling people out

You have to respect our choice

We respect your choice to leave

You must also respect our choice

We decided to stay, the question is why

Everyone said: If we leave, we leave together

They were pulling them out

(Gwyneth Ho: The protester who just came in)

(About 100 people)

(They went straight to the protesters
who refused to leave)

(Protesters: Go!)

(Be careful!)

(Let's go together!)

(Go slow!)

(Make way! Make way!)

Many said, we leave today,
we'll come back tomorrow

I was very angry at that moment

Do you think this is your own backyard?

Leave today, come back tomorrow?

You can't get in again!

I cussed at them repeatedly, fuck them

(Gwyneth Ho: A group of protesters
just came out from LegCo)

(Around 100 of them)

(I interviewed one of the protesters)

(Why did you guys have this mission?)

(Protesters: Because we found out through Telegram)

(That 4 justice warriors were staying behind)

(So we decided to all come here)

(Get them to leave together)

(They don't leave, we don't leave)

(We make them leave together)

(Gwyneth Ho: Now it's very close
to the deadline at 12 midnight)

(Are you guys afraid you won't be able to leave?)

(Protester: We're all very scared)

(But we're more afraid of
not seeing those 4 people tomorrow)

(That's why we're here, to get them to leave with us)

(Gwyneth Ho: Did someone
from the chamber come out to call on the people)

(Or was this a spontaneous action?)

(Protester: Someone was holding a megaphone)

(They said we have to respect
the "Dead Man's" decision)

(But we told them to leave together,
it's everyone's decision)

(Gwyneth Ho: I just used this elevator
to leave the LegCo Chamber)

We don't have to die, that's great!

It was this kind of feeling

The next day I watched
the Gwyneth Ho's live broadcast

There was a change in me

I cried when I realized that's how it went down

It was just a little girl

We're scared

But more afraid of not seeing those 4 people tomorrow

They really saved us

The highest level of "peace and non-violence"

Is self-sacrifice

When you have proof,
seeing what the Valiants are doing

And they're on a completely different level

Do you have the guts to go in and save them?

You don't have the guts

I was in prison that night

I listened to the whole incident on the radio

I cried

I was ashamed

They're not thugs

They're just a group of innocent kids

Why did they sacrifice so much for Hong Kong?

That kind of shock woke the Hong Kong people up

Not because of the destruction,
that's just what's on the surface

But it's the spirit of their sacrifice
behind the destruction

That moved Hongkongers

Their rescue mission to save us

Garnered better public opinion to the protesters' side

The effect perhaps may be better than what we did

(July 2, 4:00 AM,
Carrie Lam said that the violations of Legco)

(Will be investigated to the fullest extend)

(The government refused to respond to the 5 demands)

(The protesters expanded
to all districts of Hong Kong)

The concrete actions created trust

It affected the entire "Anti-Extradition" movement

We talked about "brothers keep climbing",
"we work our separate ways"

"Don't be a snitch"

The conflicts between
the "peaceful and non-violent" group

And "the Valiants"

It was completely resolved

(HongKongers! Add Oil!)

Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times

A Valiant protest will get a definite response

The other side must respond to us

Even if it's just to disperse us

That's a response

In some ways

We all want to force the government to use more force

We want them to become "uncivilized“

If we are "civilized", but they're not

If the difference is big,
then it'll attract more attention

Whether we are “be water" or doing hit and runs

We (Protesters) don't know which direction to run

To define “be water"

Is to disperse when our enemy strikes

We're setting up roadblocks over there
by "Luk Fook Jewellery"

Then we'll bolt

We'll gather when our enemy is scattered

Police are in front of us

We would go away and reappear nearby

When others close the gate,
we flow freely just like water

That's “Be Water"

I'd take a shield

I'd be at the front blocking tear gas

I can't say I'm just a "Shield Man"

I might be in the back later as a "Smoke Controller"

Putting out the smoke and tear gas

During "positional warfare“, I'd help to retreat

Call out "one, two, one, two"

One, two, one, two

Look for barriers blocking the road

Or to be a sentry wherever they need a look out

The riot police got in the car

Riot Police in the car on Waterloo Road

When I get up to the middle row,
I can exchange intel

There are 4 or 5 EUs (Assault Vehicles) in the back

At the Waterloo Road intersection

30 riot police got out of the car

The Elite Team (Special Tactical Squad) is in the back

(Push this way?)

Just got out of the car

(Okay, got it)

(I count 4, 5 tear gas bombs)

They're firing many tear gas at the Canal Road Flyover

It's a Telegram channel

There're tens of thousands of subscribers

We can figure out when "the Valiants" will take action

Then we'd gather everyone there

(After they take a picture, they'd send it to me)

(Ok, call me if there's a problem, be careful!)

(There is a problem)

(Because when they disperse after the gathering)

(They'd all be in Central)

10, 20 or so friends will help us
at the scene as sentries

Around 10 people will be at our headquarters

We'll divide into two sides

One side will do the data entry

Immediately measure the situation at the "war zone“

Then decide where our sentries should stand

Or if we need to reposition immediately

The "Map Team" will send out all the information

By instantly uploading info to HK Map app

We also have the "Driving Team“

And 2 to 3 "Mic Team" (On-site broadcasters)

Some of us were originally
"Front Line Protesters" also

Like me, I have some connections with the front line

Even if I go out to the front,
others will have to save me

I might as well find another roles that suits me

I was just a Hong Kong girl
who didn't know how to read Google Maps

Then I learned slowly

All the administrators on our Telegram channel

Were actually strangers, we've never met before

We didn't know each other's background

Occupation or age

But we use Telegram

For a common goal

We work together from the same generation

But we've never met

It's like playing online games

We can apply that to a protest rally

Which explains why there was no "big platform"

But we could still accomplish
and organize so many things

Fuck you

I don't have an attitude of playing games

But when we're talking about division of labor

Class distinction

The evolution from
"peace and non-violent" to "the Valiant"

We continue to go to the "next level"

Online games also have many "jobs" and positions

If you do Molotovs, water bombs, or paint bombs

You'd be called "magician“

We can choose different "jobs"

To find something suitable for our own skill set

That's why young people

Would compare our struggle to online games

The mentality of playing games
is applied to the real world

But to most of the protesters who came out

They're all doing it for justice

We originally organized a group of drivers

Mainly for delivering supplies

Simple things

We didn't maximize their abilities

That's why we opened a Telegram channel

Because I was the administrator on the front line

My job is to get to the front line

And make sure the protesters can go home

This is the legendary bullet proof vest

So discreet

You go this way

Ok, I'll be fine

Be careful!

OK

Bye!

Here, this tastes good, be careful

Thank you!

There are too few people today

Don't mess with the police

They're crazy. Be careful!

Thank you!

Driver: Police are over there!

(Run!)

(Don't go solo!)

(Run faster!)

(Don't go solo!)

(Don't go solo!)

It's always dangerous

I have yet to get arrested

I think I've used up all the luck in my entire life

Run!

There's no one up there!

Fuck you!

I'm fucking tired!

(Drink some water!)

You got any?

(Get some water, fast!)

(Where is it?)

(Mom, you go get it!)

(It's in the car, just grab a bottle!)

(YOU go!)

(Thanks for your hard work!)

(Be careful, Ok?)

I'd go to the front lines every time

And also fall to the back as well

I'd ask them

Brother, do you need a ride?

I'd tell them where I'm from

They would trust me

Then they'd say: so you're “Nobody"

He's easy to recognize

We're the only channel to go pick up people

Everyone knows them

At the front line when they hear them ask,
"do you need a ride“

They'll know who he is

I saw more than 200 of our people
who couldn't get home

Subways were closed

Buses weren't running

So I called the station

Told them there are 200 mates here

Help me get some cars down here

Then I saw like 3 rows of private cars coming

We called them here

They all turned on their emergency lights

3 rows, couldn't even see the end of the line

We had a mission, "not one less"

We'd call these "parent-cars"

I'm insignificant

But I'm here to assist you

To assist you with certain things

Everyone is a nobody

They're all contributing in our social movement

Because this movement
isn't supported by a big platform

Everyone is a nobody

Nobody is everyone

I can't bear how our young people

Are being suppressed by the police

I'm making a special plea to our young people

Please cherish your lives

Don't sacrifice yourselves

You have to keep on living

For the rule of law in Hong Kong

Democracy and justice

To keep fighting for the long run

If you want to arrest me, then do it

I have nothing to hide

Why won't you let me go to the Government House

Why can't the Chief Executive come down here

I want to arouse more people

Go against this unscrupulous government

Five Demands! (Not one less!)

(When a new dawn comes, we liberate Hong Kong)

The actions of the "peace and non-violent"
can inspire people

But to be inspiring

It must be epic, with many people involved

(No Extradition to China)

Fight for Freedom! (Stand with Hong Kong!)

(We want true universal suffrage)

Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times

The Lennon Wall was very important

I loved the Lennon Wall

Through social media like Facebook or Instagram

You can receive a lot of messages

But it also limits ways
for people to receive messages

The Lennon Wall can break through this limitation

People from different views and backgrounds

Can see something through the Lennon Wall

For this movement, the Lennon Wall
was hit the hardest by the government

They hired some middle aged people
to destroy the Lennon Walls

Fact is, the government is scared

Propaganda can let people
from another world to learn the truth

June 28, G20 Summit

Ads were placed in all major newspapers in the world

They raised HKD $3 million just 4 or 5 days prior

In my experience, that's impossible

You can't imagine, they raised HKD $5 million
within half a day

They did it

The ultimate peaceful actions are

The "3 strikes" (jobs, stock market, schools)

Shut down the society to shake the government

But for Hong Kong to have "3 strikes" is not easy

If social welfare sector were to go on strike

Would that get more people to participate

To have more power against employers

Against totalitarianism?

This is very important

You are a fucking Hongkonger

It's fucking ridiculous

You are ruining Hong Kong

I have been here 33 years

You are now ruining Hong Kong

The economy, the hotels

Tourism, the tourism streets, the airlines

You are fucking up the real estate market

You are ruining Hong Kong

But wait for a moment

This is the time to question your principles

They'd keep saying, "I just want to go to work"?

That's such an irresponsible thing to say

(If adults would go on strike,
kids won't have to fight)

We'll continue to get more Hongkongers
to join the strike

So that the totalitarian government

Must face the voice of Hongkongers

We went on a hunger strike for more than 10 days

Continuing the strike was not the way

We had to change

So we changed to "Guarding the Children"

Mr. Police, I'm Uncle Chan

I hope you can follow your conscience

To maintain law and order

As policemen,
you can't treat citizens with brutality

Be a conscientious policeman

Go back, God is watching you

I'm not a well-educated man

But I talk to these young kids
from the bottom of my heart

Don't go too far

Alright?

It's dangerous! (Got it!)

(Stand from a vantage point!)

We're not against the police

But in these situations

The police have to disperse the crowd

We would then become useful

Let people evacuate in an orderly manner

You guys please leave! Police will be here soon!

If you don't go, we can't go

Uncle Chan, you go first!

No way! You guys go first! (Police are coming!)

You guys just go! Ok?

Let's all go!

Quickly!

Go faster!

Follow! Everyone follow!

Follow!

Quickly follow!

We're surrounded!

Let's stand here!

Let's stand here and wait!

We stand here!

The youth are touched by "Guarding the Children"

They feel like a group of people are waiting for them

They are not alone to face the police

Are you alright?

There were many people who cared about me

Tried to persuade me not to get myself hurt

This government isn't worth it

I started farming here in the 80s

The local agriculture industry has been greatly hurt

Because of China

Government and property developers

Before 2000, I was forced
to move out without a reason

The oppression never stopped

Government and businesses colluding

Benefiting the property developers

Withdraw the corrupted northeastern plan

The land belongs to the people!
(The land belongs to the people!)

An entire generation has aspirations for our society

Filled with hope

These young people want to change the world

Did the government ever stop and think

That this is the group of people they want to stop?

(Guarding Hong Kong)

("Guarding the Children")

Uncle Chan and I feel the same way

About how the young people are suffering now

Because back then

The youths of the Northeast New Territories helped us

They were imprisoned

That's why Uncle Chan would do anything for the youth

I don't want to see our next generation

Destroyed by Carrie Lam

July 21 morning

I went to report a crime

Yuen Long Police colluded with gangsters

(Let me make it clear)

(Hit any young person wearing black with a face mask!)

(Definitely attack!)

(If you wear white instead of black, I can let you go)

I'm confident in the people
of Yuen Long's Six Villages

The more protesters come, the more we whack them

We'll beat the shit out of them

In Yuen Long

There were many people wearing white.
They were gangsters

They came out to beat people up.
They crossed the line

What's worse is that the police knew all about it

They knew what would go down

But they did absolutely nothing

Because this movement is faceless

You'd be forced to pay attention to the reporters

Because reporters can't wear masks

Gwyneth Ho: Dear viewers from Stand News

(This is Yuen Long West Rail Station)

(I am inside the paid area of the station)

(There are many people in white outside)

(With sticks and other weapons)

I became famous on July 1

Then I was beaten up on July 21

That created a huge political impact on this incident

(Gwyneth Ho: I'm ok)

When I stood up

I continued to shoot

I saw more than 10 guys beating up one person

(Stop hitting!)

(Don't attack the reporter!)

(Stop hitting!)

(It hurts!)

The man who saved me

He needed 7 stitches here

You start to realize that this movement
has reached a point of no return

Can you imagine someone wearing a dress with sequin

And sandals with sequin

Then you find out she's pregnant

She saw someone was getting beat up

She decided to go and help that person

(Fucking crazy!)

I can feel that there is a greater sacrifice coming

"The people fear no death,
why threaten them with it?"

I rushed straight to Yuen Long

When I arrived,
the assault was over at the subway platform

I saw many badly hurt and blood everywhere

At that moment, I was angry, really pissed off

Not one policeman was there

Many citizens called the police

But the police cut off the hotline

The police had the audacity to conspire with gangsters

(Citizen: Why can't I report a crime?)

(Why close the gate?)

(Reporter: Why did you come so late?)

I don't know about being late

I got the call and came

How long did it take for me to get here

I didn't check my watch. I don't know

Did you see the chaos?

You saw it

Then you should know that I can't check my watch

On July 21, I saw a group in white holding metal pipes

They gathered at the south side

But when the police held the press conference

They actually said the men in white
didn't hold any weapons

Wearing white doesn't prove
they were part of the fight

We can't say

You're wearing white so that's probable cause.
We're arresting you

The criminal investigation team came

They didn't see anyone with offensive weapons

I want to make this very clear to you

When men in white are holding metal pipes

And you dare to say
you didn't see anyone with weapons

This was the reason behind my awakening

Last night

Did the government,
police and gangsters put on a show?

When LegCo was occupied by protesters

You came out to greet the Hong Kong people at 4:00 AM

Last night, where were you the entire time?

(One year after the July 21 incident)

(Only 8 people in white were prosecuted)

(However, 7 people who were attacked
were charged with rioting)

(Including Legco Member, Lam Cheuk-ting)

(Who was helping the victims at the scene)

(Reporter: Can you sleep tonight?)

(Reporter: Think you'll go to hell?)

If the police in a society

Become thugs, or oppressors

Then the entire social order
would be completely reversed

What the government wants to do is exactly that

Let you people know

That when you go against the government

And you get beat up, we won't help you

That's the message they really want to bring out

That's why they brushed you off and didn't arrest you

The political power of this incident
has a lot of blood on their hands

(Gangsters! Gangsters!)

The most unjust thing here is the lenience

If I get exposed, arrested and imprisoned

Because I've broken the law

Then I'm willing to take responsibility

But this group of police officers

And even this group of gangsters

Can do just anything without consequences

Police: Leave immediately!

(Reporter: Are you a protester? Who are you?

Get away! Police!

(Reporter: But you don't have any IDs)

(And you're not wearing a police vest)

Police: Police are here!

Protester: I know!

Don't press anymore, I'm sorry

You've already arrested me, I know

(Reporter: Did the police beat you up?

Protester: My front teeth are gone

(Help me!)

Hong Kong has reverted back twenty or thirty years

Hong Kong was once the safest city, no more

We had the most esteemed police force, no more

Hong Kong's rule of law is dead

Because of the police force's unrestricted power

It was the government's intention

They deliberately allowed the confrontation

Between the police and its people

(Citizen: Want to arrest somebody again?)

Police: Don't come over here!

Police: Are you a lawyer?

Citizen: I'm a citizen

Police: You are a citizen.
Then I don't have to explain to you

Go get a lawyer here!

Citizen: Give me your badge number

I'll get a lawyer to talk to you

I asked you nicely

Police: I don't want to tell you

I don't want to tell you

SO what?

(Gangsters!)

Citizen: I just want a reasonable answer

Don't go, I've taken your picture

I'm getting a lawyer to talk to you

Police: People at East Point Road, stop attacking

Or else we will use force, stop charging over here

Stop attacking

Leave immediately, or else we will use force

Hong Kong Police is rubbish!

Citizen: You think you're badass?

Taxpayers pay you!

You're supposed to protect taxpayers!

Some people say that
the police have lost their conscience

I totally agree with that

My Chinese name means conscience

Don't want to be like those people
without their conscience

They only do things for money, for power

Many joined the police force
if they didn't do well in school

It's hard to find other jobs that pay as well

In fact, I also applied to join the force

Ever since I was young, I wanted to be a cop

If I did join the force,
I think I'd be poisoned by them

We hope the police officers on the front line

Can tell that the reporters are retreating

Reporters are cooperating with the police

(Jackie, did they arrest you
on charges of illegal assembly?)

If the police ever become the government's army

There'd be no room for social workers

Because it would be pointless

There'd be no room to discuss human rights

It'd just be a massacre by the military

They won't talk about conscience

It's all about obeying orders

Don't hit people!

Don't hit people!

Police: We didn't hit anyone!

You can't use brutality on our citizens!

Did you hear me!

Officers of the law cannot hit people!

We are all Hongkongers

You have to abide by police rules

Mr. Policeman, you are here to enforce the law

Now, Uncle Chan is asking you to give me

The name of the person you arrested

Tell me, can you do that?

I have the right to monitor the police

Let's go away, let reporters have this spot

OK

I hope you...

Police: Get back

We're falling! We're falling!

Stampede! Stampede!

Police: Reporters please stay back

Police: Don't move

(Citizens: Don't hit an old man)

You're hitting me? You're hitting me?

(We are wearing the yellow vest)

(Why is the police doing this?)

(He's a 70 year old man)

I can't protect the children anymore!

I'm so heartbroken

(You tried your best)

(Don't get riled up)

I'm useless, I can't save the children

(Get some rest)

Gangsters! Gangsters!

Why do I want to be a paramedic?

Because I was born in an ambulance

My parents only called the ambulance
minutes before I was born

Couldn't make it to the hospital

The ambulance just parked by the road

I was born in the car

Mask on!

On June 12, I didn't want to go to the front line

People at the front line
didn't know much about paramedic work

Then I just got further and further up the front

Even today, I'm working at the front line

(Press here)

(Yes, do the bandage first)

Be careful!

I've always had airway allergies

If I smell second hand smoke,
I would cough out a lung

Feeling better?

Escort!

Wear a mask!

Go up to the patient

(Protesters: 1, 2, 1, 2)

There is smoke over there. Escort him over there

There is still smoke, you should retreat further

Let's step back

Get your stuff,
I'm taking you to a place further back

They're getting ready to fire again

They've raised the orange flag

(Hurry and put on the mask)

(There is a lot of heavy smoke in the back)

(There is a lot of heavy smoke)

Uncle, wear it!

Let's move further down

That was the time I inhaled the most tear gas

(They have to rinse the eyes again,
we just rinsed it with water just now)

(Water is useless)

It's safe here

(Want some water?)

(August 31)

(Dissidents clashed in the MTR trains)

(After the confrontation,
the police entered Prince Edward Station)

(On the grounds of handling the situation)

(Due to a serious incident,
this station will now be closed)

On August 31, I got a text on my phone

On the train at Yau Ma Tei Station

4 people were wounded and bleeding

Police: Come out!

Police: Come on! Come on!

(Emergency broadcast)

(Due to a serious incident,
this station will now be closed)

(Passengers must leave immediately)

(All gates are now open)

Reporter: What are you doing?

Police: It's dangerous!

I didn't think twice and ran to Yau Ma Tei Station

I'm a paramedic, I am holding a flag

Obstructing a rescue is against the law

I was hoping the police wouldn't do that

On behalf of all the wounded below,
I am calling for help

Sir, I beg you!

I beg you!

Where is your sympathy?

We are only here to rescue people!

Police: You're not needed here.
You're just talkin'' to yourself

I'm very disappointed in you, sir!

(The police are shit!)

I just want to save people

(Piece of shit!)

I'm begging you

I can give you all my equipment

Sir, let me come in and save some people

Afterwards, you can hit me, shoot me,
whatever you want

You can even arrest me

I beg you to let me save them!

(Open the gate you asshole corrupt cops!)

(You murderer, fuck you!)

Fuck you!

I just want to save people

(Fuck you all, you fucks are not even human!)

(Fuck you!)

(Calm down)

(How can you call yourselves cops? Fuck you!)

I just wanted to save people

We won't attack the police

We don't attack people

I was depressed for 2 to 3 months

My emotions exploded at that moment

The police repeatedly said that
nobody was wounded in the station

Who would believe them?
We all saw the live broadcast

August 31 was a big turning point

Before August 31, I was full of love and compassion

Don't let anger consume you

Some things are just morally wrong

Just now, he was talking about murder

I totally oppose to that

Then how are you different from the cops?

We have to first figure out what is the cause

And what is the effect

How the police
selectively enforce the law is the cause

How we deal with that on our own is the effect

Don't let him escape!

The dogs (police) are here!

Police: Calm down. Put it down

When someone gets killed

That person is dead

Using a defibrillator or CPR is useless

If you kill someone
and you just say that you regret it

Those are just words

It's no use. That person won't come back to life

Taking a life for a life taken,
that's the logical thing to do

To solve the problem

You were saying that violence can't solve problems

But violence can stop people with problems

I think there are too many people with problems

You can't get rid of them completely

Even if you kill Carrie Lam

Another Carrie Lam will come along

That's why we have to fight
for dual universal suffrage

Use the system to solve existing problems

You heard him say
'taking a life for a life taken' just now

But you can see that he's a very kind person

He runs out to help people, rescuing them

(October 1, on the 70th anniversary
of the People's Republic of China)

(President Xi Jinping
presided over a military parade in Beijing)

(The same day)

(Hong Kong's Civil Human Rights Front
launched a demonstration)

(Opposed by the police)

(Many initiated their own rallies
in different various districts)

My father was born in the Mainland
during the Civil War

He knows very well
that the Communist Party is terrifying

So he told me not to participate
in the demonstrations

Xi Jinping has the same mindset as other emperors

You'd find that he doesn't care about
the Hong Kong economy

He is pursuing a greater task of unification

First take back Hong Kong

Then Taiwan

If he can accomplish these missions

Then he would become the greatest man
in modern Chinese history

An emperor

A man in power

Will not share his power with you

And give you political rights

He won't

In pursuing his dreams, Hong Kong is not important

China! (Long Live!)

(October 1, fuck your celebration)

Such small power

Can resist such oppression

I'll be home for dinner

I'll be back

It doesn't matter, whatever

I gotta go, I'm busy

I gotta go, I'm busy

Fine! Fine!

My clad often asked me
if I go to participate in the demonstrations

I'd answer no

Every time I go, I'd lie to my parents

Telling them that I was playing basketball

They never thought I would go to the demonstrations

My clad said to me: "Do you think

CCP would let you get away with a revolution

And the independence of Hong Kong?"

He told me there was no hope

Stop thinking about it

I replied, "How can there be hope if we don't try?"

Even if it's just a little bit

A single spark can start a prairie fire

(An 18 year-old protester was shot in the lung)

(With a live round by the police)

(He was later charged with rioting
and assaulting the police)

My chest hurts!

I can't breathe

In such a civilized place

How can such a barbaric governance be happening?

This type of governance
is almost like they're raping us

They don't care about your feelings

In the end, they'll do whatever they want

To survive under this type of governance,
this social atmosphere

And the political environment

It's difficult to protest
in a gentle and peaceful way

Just pull the door

We need a look-out over there

Do we have any sentries over there?

Look over there!

Watch your head!

(Got a hammer?)

(Watch your head!)

Close the door! Fuck you!

(Anti-Communist)

"To decorate“ is to destroy

"Red capital“ are shops with Mainland capital

And "Blue Ribbon“ shops

Which are the ones with a political stand
supporting the government

These shops are part of the reason
for Hong Kong's downfall

When the society turned authoritarian

When the police began to act uncivilized

And you still use civil disobedience,
then it won't work

That's why "uncivil disobedience" is reasonable

(Communist Railway)

(Protester: Don't do that!)

(They think we did this)

(We don't steal things)

Freedom is always more important than money

Money can be earned back

I'd rather fight for a higher cause

A society with equality

I hope to be a lawyer in the future

Where'd you find this?

I made it! It cost me HKD $50!

It's already evaporating!

Where'd you buy this?

Gasoline, HKD $25 a bottle

That's fuckin'' expensive

Yeah!

There's only a little bit left

It's evaporating

I spilled it on my clothes!

Fuckin'' hell

Fuck!

Now what? Can we still use it?

Fuck!

Why don't we go and burn the Bank of China

Fuck you! It's all gone!

All gone!

Fuck! Evaporated!

Evaporated?

I told you to use it right away

Now we can't use it, fuck you!

We light this, we're all dead

If I were the police

I wouldn't be scared of the Molotov cocktail

Because I have the gear

Fireproof, protective gear

Then why did we still throw the Molotovs?

Because we want to tell the government that

If you refuse to listen to the Hong Kong people

Then we just have to escalate our actions

I'd rather sacrifice my future

I'd rather burn with the whole Hong Kong economy

I'd rather paralyze Hong Kong

You have to get the global community to take action

Free Hong Kong, pass the Act

Today, more than 1500 Hongkongers

The youngest at the age of 12

Have been unreasonably arrested

Their pain is my pain

We belong to the same community

Struggling for our right of self-determination

So we can build one brighter and common future

Economic sanctions, political sanctions

Then we have the chance to burn CCP

If we are going to burn in Hong Kong

Then CCP will burn with us

One of the guys made a lasting impression on me

He came over to help me with my helmet

It was too loose, I didn't know how to adjust it

He carefully helped me fix it

He told me to be careful, you're too young,
don't go to the front lines

He said his life is worthless, so he can take it

Then he tapped his helmet twice and left

Nobody's life is worthless

Everyone is useful in some ways

We know we're all brothers and sisters in arms

So we trust each other

It's a mutual trust at critical moments

Where does this trust come from?

I think it's from a collective scar
that all of us have

When we were attacked by tear gas

We've suffered some latent diseases

I knew our bodies couldn't handle it

And women had a very serious problem

Their menstrual cycles were all messed up

Our period was dark brown or black

My relationship with my father was really bad

We haven't talked for a long time

We've bumped into each other on the street once

It was like we were strangers

We didn't even look at each other,
and just went separate ways

I've inhaled a lot of tear gas

I was coughing really badly, and got bronchitis

Someone said, "Your son is coughing real bad“

The other said, "He asked for it.
Who told him to go?"

"Don't expect me to take care of him"

These are my parents

We used to live happily at home

Enjoyed home-cooked meals

But I haven't been home for 6 months

Haven't slept in my own bed

How do you open this?

Are you mentally challenged?

I've never opened one at home

What?

Can't open it

What are you doing?

I want to open the windows

Leaves are blowing in

You guys have to open some windows

OK!

Chicken wings, Guy

Lok, are you ready for seconds?

(News: Protesters are gathered
at Prince Edward Road West)

Why did he go to bed so early?

He's sleepy, he always goes to bed early

He usually sleeps by midnight

Teammates don't know my name

They just call me "Mom“

They call us “Dad" and "Mom“

Because we've gathered many "lone rangers"
at the front line

We took care of their safety

There were people younger than me

Protecting me at the front line

At their age, we should be protecting them

Instead of them protecting us

Where is Snake? Is he on the way?

Snake is at the front line
in Tsim Sha Tsui, retreating

What's "Mom's“ position?

We gradually became a family

We developed an intimate and emotional bond

That kind of bond comes from
going through hell together

Everyone deeply cares for each other

We can retreat from there and go that way

Be careful, stay on one side

Just now, who was truly relaxed

If you joined this movement because of empathy

Or because of anger

You won't last too long

When the movement becomes stagnant

You'll feel lost and powerless

At that point, you'd have to ask yourselves

Why did you come out to participate?

Then an 18-year old kid quickly stood up

He told me he had something to say,
so I said go ahead

Sometimes it's not about
what you want or don't want to do

It's about your ability and responsibility

Every time when the riot police

Were hunting people down, it was very dangerous

That one time,
I happened to catch my girlfriend's hand

Took her hand and ran

The moment I touched her hand, I knew I liked her

Young love

Like those romantic TV dramas

I thought we should take a picture for birthday

Then "Mom" stopped me

Other kids also commented

They were afraid something may happen

And everyone will get in trouble with the photo

I wasn't opposed to shooting the photo

I wanted to, but I couldn't

When we put on our gear,
we could recognize everyone

But when we take off our gear,
we might not be able to

This kind of relationship is created by this movement

I'm afraid after this movement

I will have nothing to do with these people

I'm watching our back

(We support the police...
Shooting themselves in the head!)

Sis! "Dad“ is old, don't walk too fast!

Can't hold on

This picture, maybe a few years later

Or some time later

I'll look at it again

And reminisce that I once

Had a group of brothers and sisters in arms

I felt true love in them

We were not blood related, but we were like a family

We have different family names

But we're bound together in our hearts

(Happy birthday to brothers!)

(Happy birthday to you!)

My birthday wish is

Liberate Hong Kong!

The revolution of our times!

Mid-Autumn festival is a day for reunions

I want to take a picture

Should we get someone to shoot for us?

Western doll is in the middle

For everyone's safety

If something happens to the both of us

You'll have to pretend we've never met

We're not your "Mom“ and "Dad"

(Since the movement started)

(Many floating bodies and cases of suicide)

(From jumping off buildings were found)

(Police classified them as “no suspicion")

When everyday becomes so absurd

We begin to lose our humanity

Hong Kong shouldn't be this way

(Outside Yau Tong Disciplined Services Quarters)

(It was suspected that a corpse
was pushed off the building)

(Through a transom window)

The deceased are suspected
to be victims of staged suicides

They go missing or they get thrown off buildings

The victim's families

Is it possible they've been warned by China?

You expose us,
then your other child will be in danger

(September 22)

(The naked corpse of
15-year-old protester Chan Yin-I am)

(Was found at sea)

(Police said there was no foul play
and quickly cremated the body)

If people don't believe it, you'll have to explain

Why would an excellent swimmer take off her clothes

To kill herself at sea

You don't give any evidence

Saying that there's no suspicion,
will only raise more suspicion

I've often dreamt of being hunted or killed

My mood has never been too good

I don't want to believe that sexual assault
and violence occurred

But I think it did happen

(October 22, an 18-year-old girl reported a crime)

(Accusing policemen gang raped her
in a police station)

(She also got pregnant and had an abortion)

A woman has made these accusations

Investigators are following the direction
of "misleading the police"

Or "giving false evidence"

We want real justice

No Sexual Violence

Illegal naked searches violate human rights

(November 4)

(22-year-old college student
Alex Chow fell to his death)

(From a height at a rally)

(Police claimed that they did not enter
the scene of the incident)

(Later found out they lied)

It's a place where people are forced
to sacrifice their lives to be heard

But you know the government wouldn't do anything

Then you become very angry

(November 11)

(Protesters are outraged by the death of Alex Chow)

(They initiated a traffic blockage in Hong Kong
forcing people to)

(Go on strike for work,
school and the financial market)

Liberate Hong Kong! The revolution of our times!

We have to go home!

Hongkongers! Revenge!

Forcing people to join the 3 strikes
by closing the roads

Will not be effective

People must do it voluntarily to make it work

You can't force people to go on the 3 strikes

Is there no train?

You have to wait now,
there's an incident over there

How long is the wait?

Don't know, we have to take care of it first

So annoying

You think I don't gotta work?

I wanna go to work

The first time I went out was "Operation Dawn"

I went out alone

I had to get to school before 8 am

I didn't want to be late

If I was late, then my school
would've called my mom

I was very scared
when the riot police got off the car

My legs were shaking

I was carrying my schoolbag, it was very heavy

There were many other Form 4 and 5 students

They ran fast

I was carrying a heavy bag filled with books

There was a riot police
who was running exceptionally fast

I was running in the last batch

I ran as fast as I could

I was really afraid of getting arrested
on my first time out

(Reporter: There are police officers here)

(That's a traffic policeman)

(He drew a gun, he drew a gun)

(He just opened fire!)

Our plan was just blocking the road

They'd shoot at armed robbers only at the legs

But this time, they shot an unarmed

Masked youngster in the heart

The shooting of a man in the street

And then the motorcycle incident

Amnesty has gone on to say that

"These are not policing measures"

"These are officers out of control"

"With a mindset of retaliation"

How concerned are you that after more than

Five months of this crisis your police force is

Starting to look out of control?

If you want to paralyze traffic
in Hong Kong at CUHK

There are 3 ways

One is the railway

Second is the Tolo Highway

Third is Tai Po Road

If we can block these three roads

From New Territories to Kowloon

Or from Kowloon going into New Territories

There's no way through

My team has many people from CUHK

I consider the Chinese University as my home

After traffic jams were everywhere

We knew something happened at CUHK

So we went there immediately

This is the campus life, you hear me?

When we retreated back,
we all panicked for a while

Because everyone saw it at the same time

Someone was thrown down
by the police and got arrested

Protester: Run!

Tear gas canisters exploded at our feet

Then tear gas got into our pants
through the crotch area

It got into our sex organs

It's the most painful experience for men

What gets me mad is seeing the police
break into our prestigious school

The anger of seeing our civilized society destroyed

We're from that school,
naturally we have a sense of belonging

When we were guarding that university

It symbolized us protecting Hong Kong

Many Hongkongers came to CUHK to help

University staff: Our principal
wants to solve this problem now

Protester: Are gatherings illegal within the campus?

Not really, let's clarify this matter

What about the arrested and the injured?

I've arranged a lawyer to help these students

In fact, the students are being treated unjustly
(Release them!)

Their arrest is already unjust in itself

Even if you get lawyers to help them in this case

They would be helping them under injustice

The students only want justice

I want to ask

As a principal of a university,
you're an influential person in society

Your status is so unique

Then why is a 22-year-old student
wearing a bulletproof vest

Standing here in front of you,
inside the campus talking to you

Why didn't you come yesterday morning or this morning

Every time after something happened

You'd only appear within the school campus

Why?

From June until now

What kind of protection is this?

(You can't even protect us)

Reporters and spectators, please leave immediately

All the people behind you are armed

Principal, please leave now!

Principal Tuan, please leave immediately

This is not the time for negotiation

This is not the time for negotiation and talking

Please leave immediately

At first, there was a "ceasefire agreement"

But when Principal Tuan
was close to the police line, then suddenly

Orange flag! Principal, orange flag!

We were on the No.2 Bridge guarding
and throwing Molotovs

The purpose was to stall for time

And prevent the police from coming in

(Make way, make way!)

Are there anymore Molotovs?

One of our teammates brought a flare gun

We needed a location that's safe with a clear view

To fire at the police

We decided to walk up the hillside
above the No.2 Bridge

We waited for the chance
to let the police walk into our range

Wow, fuck!

No, no! Missed the target!

Our brothers are running down there now

(He's on our side, he's a brother)

Be careful, don't get hit in the head!

Don't throw them now! There are teammates below

Brothers, listen to me,
be careful when throwing the Molotovs

There are many reporters down there

Only throw the Molotovs when the police arrive

(We got some of our people down there)

(Our people, be careful!)

(Those are our people down there!)

The police won't dare to come in now

Give them some time

Retreating, retreating!

The police are coming! They're coming!

The police are not close enough yet!

Fire! Fire!

Mother fucker!

After the police saw that we got the flare gun

The next 5 minutes they became less aggressive

They were all college
and high school students inside CUHK

If you were there, you'd keep hearing people yelling

It hurts; it's hot in here;
it's stuffy here; I can't breathe

The amount of tear gas has reached a level

That even if you wear a gas mask

You'd still feel it and have difficulty breathing

But no one backed out

Everyone kept on guarding the No. 2 Bridge

We have never successfully stayed all night

We've never even guarded pass dawn
without getting kicked out

That moment was very encouraging for us

(I beg you all to go on strike tomorrow)

(We can't wait any longer,
we don't know if there'll be a tomorrow)

(Do you understand us?)

(Don't tell us to evacuate)

(We have to go and protect this place)

(We don't want to sacrifice ourselves)

(But we have to hold off the police)

(In order to stop them from attacking)

(We also want peace)

(The only thing you can do is go on strike)

(If you don't want us to die,
then you have to go on strike)

That night I slept at CUHK

I looked at the sky and felt something real

But at the same time, it felt very surreal

Inside a university in Hong Kong

Throwing Molotovs to protect our people

We could die

The truth is, we were very scared

A few thousand tear gas canisters were fired at us

We even heard that bombs
were hidden near the No. 2 Bridge

Wow, isn't that ridiculous?

The people guarding the No. 2 Bridge
were crazy to call the police

Called them to come to CUHK to beat them up

They're out of their fucking minds

They don't think for minute
why we were guarding that bridge

They really thought they were fucking cool,
winning the battle

But I want to say that

If they really wanted to storm in, it would be easy

They have a lot of weapons,
like water cannons, real guns, etc

They retreated

Because Principal Tuan negotiated with them,
then they left

You think they were really scared
of our measly Molotov cocktails?

Everyone fought hard to win
a good battle the other clay

But don't dwell in the feeling of winning,
it can cloud our minds

(Why were there bombs?)

Yesterday, they thought the police
were coming into CUHK

So they wanted to set bombs to blow them up

(Fucking crazy!)

Our CUHK students persuaded most people to leave

Let our CUHK people continue to guard the school

Finally, they dismantled the bombs before they left

The whole thing was resolved

The brothers who stayed on the bridge all night

We will continue to have people coming over to CUHK

Baptist U, City U and Poly U

Their siege is getting even worse now

I hope everyone sends out messages

To help these universities with reinforcements

(November 17)

(Protesters moved to occupy Polytechnic University)

(Blocking the Cross-Harbour Tunnel,
a main transportation hub)

The Police also targeted the Cross-Harbour Tunnel

Poly U is next to the tunnel

We finally chose Poly U

That night, as soon as I arrived, I went to Zone Z

I was responsible for “Customs"

I had to question newcomers
and ask them where they were from

Checked their bags, body searched them

There were already many people when I arrived

After experiencing the battle at CUHK

We got better at doing things, more professional

Take this out

Give it to someone else

This was a great deal

HKD $15?

That is a deal, so cool

Got it on Toy Street in Sham Shui Po

Just pull back the rubber band and release

Some people were calm and collected,
working on propaganda

Some were making Molotovs by the swimming pool

Some went to search for raw materials at the labs

It was like a small community

Everyone did different things

Having just finished the CUHK battle

It felt like Hongkongers
just got a shot of confidence

We felt like we finally beat the police

Could we do it again?

Everyone is confident

Next, we'll go to the East TST Bridge

And see if we can hold our guard

We'll try, if we can't hold it,
we'll have to retreat

We'll be forced to stand and fight!

If the police attack from the East TST Bridge

The entire Poly U will fall

Poly U will be finished

Be careful

It's been a long time
since we had a headquarter of sorts

We had resources and a lot of manpower

We can take different shifts

We were able to change our clothes
to go to the front lines

It gave me a feeling that everyone was together again

One team, at the same place

We were together on the front lines.
Doing things together

The next morning there was news that

The police wanted to storm in

This is a police warning

You are participating in an illegal assembly

Leave immediately

Or else the police will use tear gas
infused blue liquid to disperse

And then we will arrest you

This is a warning from the police

There were more young protesters at Poly U

Many young people were holding Molotovs

I didn't know if they've ever thrown one

Or even know how to

You'd get a bit lost at that moment

Everyone was holding a Molotov

Like a real war

Brothers and sisters, please come into Poly U

Liberate Hong Kong! The revolution of our times!

When I arrived at Poly U, I ran to the front

I was a bit scared

Don't waste the Molotovs

Because we were short on Molotovs

We had to pick them back up

We can't afford to lose this valuable resource

There are more than a dozen bottles of Molotovs here

(Bring them to me, ok?)

(Liberate Hong Kong! The revolution of our times!)

(Hongkongers! Revenge!)

You have to support the bottom

Support the bottom

So many bottles

(Brothers and sisters! Everyone pay attention!)

(The firewall in Zone Y
has successfully blocked the police)

(And our reinforcements have reached Gascoigne Road)

Fuck you! Why are you so stubborn?

Stand with Hong Kong

It's ok, it's nothing!

Head down!

Spit it out!

Got towels?

On the side, water hose

Take it off! Take it all off!

Help me take it away!

Rinse the face first

Ok, I got you

Unload the gear

Rinse the face

When I got to PolyU,
most of the entrances were closed

I got in through a small path

I had no idea how dangerous it was when I got in

I was just trying to help out any way I can

Everyone thought this would be like CUHK

The police would eventually leave

After a while, we had an idea of what's going on

Then we were scared

We heard news that the police were coming

We also heard non-stop gun fire and people screaming

Retreat after you throw it

After burning the armored car,
I knew something was wrong

By that time most of the exits were closed

Including all small paths

I just want to take these ordinary citizens away

But we don't have a safe exit

It's a dead end over there

(Police: You stay in the university, just go back!)

You want us to stay in the university?

(Police: Just go back!)

You want us to stay in the university?

(Police: Just go back!)

I want to see your commanding officer

They fucking surrounded us

In normal life, dating crises
are just the daily quarrels

But the crisis now is

We can all get arrested here at Poly U

I can do it myself

Can you bring me a mask filter

Sisi's filter needs to be replaced

(Intercom: OK!)

At night, I'd be at the front line as a "shield"

Standing there blocking the water cannon

And cover people throwing Molotovs

(Reporter: Is it still burning?)

It fucking hurts, man!

(Reporter: You just got hit
by a tear gas infused blue liquid)

The sting has stopped. I feel better now!

Are you good"?

I want to go fight

The water cannon is about 100 meters away

They're only firing at the side. Watch out!

(Don't get shot!)

Ok?

(Reporter: I'm Ok)

It's nothing

That's the spirit

(Reporter: My helmet blocked it)

Let someone else throw it first, then we'll throw it

Can you pass me a Molotov?

You can throw it

Quick, break!

Fuck you!

Molotov cocktail!

I want a gas mask and goggles. Thanks

I can't stand it. Fuck!

You'd see armored and water cannon vehicles

Continuously firing

Firing tear gas and rubber bullets every five minutes

All the Poly U students at Zone A

They never retreated

Non-stop tear gas, and water cannons
with tear gas infused liquid

Never stepped back

They just raised their umbrellas together every time

Everyone would yell “Hold it", for a few minutes

Then they put their umbrellas down

Then the front line people would be replaced

By a new group who can take it

Seeing this image,
this group of people are magnificent

And very tough

Because this was not our usual rally

With only a handful of tear gas canisters,
this was non-stop

Actually, the police were trying to deplete our energy

They kept on attacking from the outside

And we kept on going out there to defend

I once thought

What would happen
if they came in here and killed us all?

At 4 or 5 in the morning, the police charged in

I never thought I would get shot

I got shot above my eye the first time

I was lucky

I was most scared of not being able to walk out of there

Can't go back to the front line

Actually, I did these things

Because I wanted to tell the government

Hongkongers will not be silenced
because of money or oppression

I will not let anyone to rob my freedom

I will not let anyone take away my freedom of thinking

I will not let anyone take away my free will

Hong Kong needs to prove to them

That even eggs can knock down walls

They can go over high walls and be thrown across

I was the administrator of the"parent-cars“

I would go to Poly U to pick people up and leave

Arrange nearby places for people
to be picked up by "parents"

When we were under siege,
I never thought I couldn't escape

According to international practice

In any protest,
there must be a way for people to leave

But the police didn't do that

If the police wanted to arrest us

They could just pit us against a corner

We were their targets

They could've easily smashed us to bits

Can't go that way, idiot

Police: Anyone entering
or staying within the PolyU campus

And assisting the rioters

May be considered a complicit in rioting

The first time we tried to break out,
we were unsuccessful

Couldn't hold it. They fired tear gas from 3 sides

They kept on firing and many were arrested

The police had mapped out a plan to capture us

They won't let us leave.
They'd arrest us as we come out

Kneel down!

Get away!

Stop shooting!

What's your name? Stop shooting!

What is your name?

Police: Stand back, stop obstructing police business

I'm asking you,
why did you shoot after he surrendered?

Police: You can ask
our Public Relations Department, ok?

Why did you shoot after he surrendered?

You guys said you had rules to follow!

Don't shoot! They are human beings!

My name is Lam Chun

Liberate Hong Kong! The revolution of our times!

There was a 2nd plan

People outside would come and save us

We had high hopes

Many people were still inside Poly U

A few hundred just at the front line

So some people were coming to Poly U

Using different ways to come in

Many citizens were just in their casual clothes

Without any gear

Arrived at Salisbury Road

Go to Poly U! Save the students!

Brothers kept on calling out

Come out! Come out!

If you don't come out

The brothers and sisters at Poly U will be doomed

A group of rioters have gathered at Poly U

For more than one week

Everyone staying at Poly U

Must be arrested immediately

Police are involved
in a tense standoff with protesters

Who barricaded themselves
inside a university in Hong Kong

(The protesters who've stayed,
many inside, have no way out)

I am here to appeal to all members of our society

Please save Poly U

There are many students trapped

Inside our campus right now

Please come out and help our school!

Save Poly U

I beg you ! Don't!

Police: I beg you not to beg me!

My clad called me

He was at the rally in Hung Hom

With other families petitioning

Be a humanitarian and let their children go

You can even bring their parents into Poly U

So they can peacefully bring their children out

You can arrest them

Try them in the court of law

But you can't use violence, or lynching

If I can't get my daughter out

I will jump off a building!

The government must give me back my daughter!

I was very worried

After all, it was quite dangerous outside

My clad told me I had to man up

This was no time to be afraid

At that moment, I couldn't control my emotions

I cried non-stop

I don't want my family to be in danger

But my family chose to come out for me

I'm sorry I've let them down

On the morning of the 18th

We started to look at the floor plan of Poly U

Later, someone delved into the water sewer to escape

Some escaped through the train tracks

The sense of morality was very strong that day

You'd see people wearing suits

Digging bricks on the side of the road

The scene was insane

The Poly U incident

Really brought Hongkongers to the street to fight

24-hour non-stop

Dozens of cars were waiting

By the exits at Poly U
where our brothers and sisters may come out

The whole city came out
to save Poly U, from all directions

Zone A had 2 teams coming in

One from Tsim Sha Tsui

The other from Hung Hom

Zone Z had a team coming from Mong Kok

Save Poly U!

Save Poly U!

Save Poly U!

There were mainly 2 groups of protesters at Poly U

One group wanted to leave, find a way to escape

The other chose to wait for rescue to come

Then dash out to join them

When I got to the bridge

People were climbing down with ropes

They had just started using the ropes

Just go for it, take a gamble

It was the last chance

If you couldn't make it, then you weren't leaving

You couldn't leave safely

So I called Snake

Told them to come to Zone Y

Don't worry about it, the bridge

But they didn't reply me

They didn't reply me

At that moment, I didn't want to go to the bridge

I wanted to dash out

Because...

You could feel that it was a historical moment

That was the next turning point
of the last six months

You could feel it

Everyone risked their lives

To dash out there

To meet up with them

Even if people had to step over my dead body

Someone will make it

That's the scene

That scene will make history

When I decided to dash out

I had to strip away my identity

As a student

As the son of my parents

As a future social worker

I had gotten rid of all my identities

At that moment, I had only one identity

Even if I had to sacrifice my life, I dashed out

As a Protester

Get away!

Let him go!

The police had real guns, rubber bullets

Water cannons, armored vehicles

We were using our head count,

And our bodies as a wager

Hoping the sheer number of us could dash in

The van wants to charge over there, doesn't it?

Wow! Fuck!

In the end, we came up
half a block short of getting in

It was tough

But we just couldn't do it

We almost turned a page in history

We were so close

We were halfway

That clay, "the peaceful and non-violent"
and "the Valiant" were one

That clay, the people on the street had only one goal

It was to rescue the people from Poly U

If we were water

Then Poly U was the sponge

We were all in there and couldn't come out

The sponge was squeezed by the police,

With a great amount of force

We were cut off from the outside

We could only communicate by phone

Either we wait for our deaths, get 10 years jail time

Or we find a way to escape

But we could die while trying

How would you choose?

Many people at Poly U

Were faced with the most important question of their lives

(November 19, Before Dawn)

(Approved by the police)

(Many high school principals entered PolyU)

(To persuade students under 18 to leave)

(After registering their names)

There are still people inside

I'm not going, let me think about it

Give me time to think about it, don't bother me!

You're 15, right?

I'll lead you out

I can

Let me make it clear to you

Hold on a bit longer

Backup has already broken through the walls

(We really want to see you back at school)

When we were at the brink of an emotional breakdown

We tried to go down the sewer

I looked into it and couldn't see anything

It was too dark down there

We lost our sense of direction

I was looking at the map and couldn't understand it

There were cockroaches

Many cockroaches were coming at me on both sides

The sewage water was up to my neck

It was very cold

The further I got into the sewer, the narrower it got

Oxygen levels were dropping

Breathing was becoming difficult

Crawling like that, you'd consume a lot of energy

I couldn't take it anymore

The entire rescue team consisted of several units

We saved about 400 people

During the rescue, the heartbreaking thing was

We had given the protesters a route to escape

But there was no guarantee
that they would come out safely

Some people lost contact

When they didn't report back after 2 hours

We'd see their GPS locations

And discover that they were still in the sewer

I was crying my eyes out

No one would know if you died in the sewer

No one could find you

No one would know what you experienced

Your existence can suddenly

Be washed away by the sewage water

Who wanted our young kids to

Go through this kind of suffering?

My mom called and asked if I was at Poly U

She told me not to worry

There must be a way to escape

I broke down at the moment

I don't know what can be done

We were hiding in one of the rooms
with the door locked

I didn't know whom the room belonged to

Whose table was that

I wrote a note to the owner of the table

I wrote that we were trying to escape

Don't know what would happen

Sorry for messing up your table

It was nice to have known you

I really didn't know what to write

We were desperate

That we wrote to this stranger

My first time dashing out

I was afraid of getting arrested,
there was a big chance

So I recorded a will

If something happens to me, or if I get arrested

Please help me take care of my family

I don't know what will happen

If I really have to go to prison for 10 years

I hope you will help me fight and liberate Hong Kong

My school team has to get into the elite finals

If not, I'll surely come back for you

Fuck you!

You guys have to keep pushing on

At the time of hopelessness inside Poly U

I recorded a message

(We've tried crawling through the sewers)

(We've tried dashing out)

(We've tried to find ways to escape)

(But it's a dead end)

(We don't want to give up)

(But we can't hold on any longer)

That's it

(November 29)

(The siege lasted for 16 days,
the police finally unblocked PolyU)

(1,377 people were arrested)

(And 318 underage students were registered)

(The protest movement suffered a great defeat)

(Taiwan)

"Be water" is to be

Able to change strategy when needed

When we faced difficulties

And if something didn't work

We must think in a different way

Some of my “kids“
were registered when they left Poly U

There's a record for the government to track down

Some of our pictures were taken at the bridge

We could be recognized

"Dad“ planned to leave Hong Kong

We came to Taiwan first,
Snake was the last one to come

Coming to Taiwan doesn't mean
that we've forsaken Hong Kong

Doesn't mean our movement is over

We have to think out of the box

How we can regroup and prepare ourselves

I'm a little bit broken down

Because you'd never think that
after your name was registered

You'd be arrested if you tried to leave Hong Kong

Within 48 hours

I was thinking, would I be able to leave?

Just come and arrest me at the airport

If I knew I was going to be arrested

I might've been more at ease

Writing a letter to my girlfriend

I'm a caring boyfriend

The time spent while we're separated

We've been worried about each other

After leaving the airport,
I took a bus to Taipei Station

Then I saw her

It was an amazing moment

It's difficult to want to see someone

I looked at my lost brothers and sisters

I couldn't see them after they got arrested

I couldn't hold back

Because what's left of me

Were the people sitting in front of me

They are real, right here beside me

"Dad“

Snake

Together as a family

It's also the trust they always have in me

Gives me the courage to continue to be "Mom“

When Snake arrived in Taiwan

He couldn't sleep until dawn

No more exercising

No more sports, no more jogging

It's ironic, Snake was a social worker

Sometimes, he'd know that I'm under a lot of pressure

He'd come over and talk to me

I knew he wanted to comfort me

If Hong Kong were a person

And Poly U was their emotional illness

I wouldn't know how to comfort them

When you see so many people

Still willing to fight for Hong Kong

But I chose to leave

I feel I've let them down

Tear gas, watch out. Better not cry

Chris Tang (Commissioner of Police) is coming to town

Taiwan Freedom!

Every vote counts!

Taiwan Freedom!

I thank everyone for standing up

Let's create a more magnificent Taiwan together

In Taiwan

Every citizen can vote to elect their president

Hong Kong doesn't have that

A man in his 40s came up to me and said

Your situation in Hong Kong

He experienced it in Taiwan when he was young

They spent 40 years

To establish the current political system

So the road is very long

You guys have to be careful, "add oil'

We are guarding the beacon of Chinese democracy

To give Hong Kong hope

Tsai Ing-wen won because

Everyone in Taiwan

Wants to tell the government of Taiwan and China

That they don't need, don't want

To be a part of China

I feel very emotional, very happy

Taiwan can hold the last line of defense

Taiwan has succeeded with their votes

Tsai Ing-wen has won the election

Hong Kong and Taiwan will influence each other

We won't let CCP succeed anywhere

We will do whatever it takes

To protect our freedom and democracy

Tsai Ing-wen! (Elected!)

12,11

10, 9

Liberate

Hong Kong

The revolution

Of our times

Happy New Year!

The revolution of our times

The revolution of our times is not only for Hong Kong

We are the front line against the Chinazi

The front line of the world

The CCP has committed crimes against humanity

Everything they've done has damaged the social system

Hong Kong should be regarded
as the Hong Kong of the world

International Hong Kong

Frontier of the free world,
fighting against totalitarianism

The bill is passed and without objection

The motion to reconsider is laid on the table

The United States stands in solidarity

With freedom-loving of Hong Kong

And we fully support their fight for freedom

Globalization gave rise to China

China's economic growth

Many for their self interest

Including many western countries

Turned a blind eye to the rise of China's power

This would threaten the freedom
and democracy of the world

Hong Kong has let the West and the world know

To look back in history

Every totalitarian state

Will topple one day

I truly believe

That clay will come for the CCP

Hong Kong's chances of becoming independent

Are higher than before

Especially after this movement

You can see the focus from the West about Hong Kong

Is the fact that CCP has not fulfilled
the Sino-British Joint Declaration

If the CCP failed to fulfill its promises
in the declaration

Can the CCP exercise its sovereignty
over Hong Kong again?

Of course I'm only analyzing it objectively

I'm putting on a helmet,
I'm not supporting Hong Kong independence

Fact is, I am only fighting for one thing

That is freedom

It means that people should be
in control of their own destiny

Then that would be freedom

For a place too

I've grown a lot this past year

I clearly know my own identity

I've become a true Hongkonger

One English word

The word "Hongkonger" is in the dictionary

Hong Kong people's identity is established

There is no turning back

CCP will not let Hong Kong go

It will not allow for independence

But this past year

We've made a lot of impossibilities

Into possibilities

I really don't know what the future holds

It's best to let Hongkongers decide for themselves

Instead of someone else deciding for them

(June 30, 2020)

(The National People's Congress passed)

(The "National Security Law"
in Hong Kong to punish crimes)

(Such as secession and endangering the country)

(Hongkongers can be sent to China for trial)

(And the maximum sentence is life imprisonment)

"National Security Law"
completely by-passes the Basic Law

It gives absolute power to the chief executive

And national security officials to work in Hong Kong

To achieve comprehensive control and monitoring

(July 1, 2020)

(On the 23rd Anniversary of
the Establishment of Hong Kong SAR)

(The "National Security Law"
of Hong Kong was implemented)

Hong Kong Independence! The only way out!

(Snake and his girlfriend
returned to Hong Kong from Taiwan)

(Again taking the streets to protest)

("Mom and Dad" are still in Taiwan)

As long as there are Hongkongers in this place

Hong Kong will not be hopeless

Why are they so courageous?

I'm not sure

I really don't know why they are so courageous

Maybe in a time of despair

It's the last struggle

(By the end of 2020)

(The police arrested
10,144 protesters and prosecuted 2,285)

(80 police officers were charged
with violations by the IPCC)

(But there were no criminal prosecutions)

(Not being a voluntary first aider any longer)

(Morning became a journalist in the front line)

(Recording the truth)

Hong Kong Independence! The only way out!

We did a lot of things

That we couldn't tell people, it was very hard

But you've helped us document this

Thank you

They are smarter than me

They're more wise and courageous than me

Within one year

The lessons I've learned, and the meaning behind it

Is more than what I've gained in the last 80 years

I don't think I've lost anything

Maybe just time spent studying

I don't think resistance or revolution is a sacrifice

To fight is a part of life

I've interviewed a 14-year-old boy once

He had a high school classmate

Who got stabbed in the stomach at the Lennon Wall

There was a female classmate who got arrested

Then she was threatened to be raped
at the police station

A 14-year-old kid

Had to face these things everyday

You can imagine

It's the same with many high schools in Hong Kong

I look forward to putting on my gear again

I want to continue fighting with my brothers

I want to be more courageous

I really want to fulfill my mission

The wishes for taking mask off at LegCo

Was that hopefully when we've accomplished our mission

We can have a huge celebration

With this hope

It can create a stronger motivation
for everyone to fight

Whenever I get frustrated

When I want to quit, and leave this game

I will revisit our movement

Everything that's happened so far that makes me angry

How they keep me angry

Maybe even angrier

That will keep me going

To get the government to pay
for their actions is my motivation

Come on, it's just 10 years

Just a decade

So chill about it

Everyone in prison would be from our generation

We'd never be lonely in there

I want my normal life back

Enjoy going to a concert

Going hiking

I want a full time job

I've never wanted a normal job so bad in my life

Me too, I want to work so bad, it's crazy

When the Jews left Germany

They spent a few decades rebuilding their country

Why can't Hong Kong do the same?

The Jews did it

Why can't Hongkongers do the same?

Hongkongers are a group of excellent people

To Hongkongers

Hong Kong as a place is not important

"You“ are important

I've given everything for this cause

Not for Hong Kong, but for Hongkongers

For our next generation

For our future

I give my all

I'm ready

Since I will be tried in juvenile court

My sentence may be shorter

10 years, I'll still be in my 20s
when I get out of prison

I'd still choose this path

5 Demands! (Not one less!)

I'm 11

My family doesn't support me coming here

In Wong Tai Sin, I was hit with a tear gas canister

My eyes couldn't stop crying

I kept drooling and my nose kept running

It was unbearable

Hongkongers have to "add oi|"

There was a 10-year-old kid

Maybe 11 or 12 years old,
he was at the front line helping

He was taking in tear gas, dodging rubber bullets

Taking a beating from the police

Adults should not keep hiding in the back

For selfish reasons, they shouldn't continue

To bury their conscience

I really want all 7 million people to stand up

And topple this regime

This tyranny is too terrifying

I can't take this any longer

We've suffered for too many years

I really don't have the courage to do this

But I am so grateful that you guys

Have sacrificed so much for Hong Kong

I will always carry this guilt

This bitter feeling, or whatever it is

To keep on trying to do more for the cause

Thank you so much

No worries! Hongkonger!

(Liberate Hong Kong. “Add oi|" Hongkongers)

(The revolution of our times)

(Together we stand)

("Add oi|"!)

(2020 "Covid-19" has spread throughout the world)

(In the name of fighting the pandemic)

(HK government established a "restriction order")

(To prohibit all demonstrations)

(After "National Security Law" was enforced)

(Nathan Law, Ted Hui and other opposition figures)

(Went into exile overseas)

(Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow,
Jimmy Lai and others are imprisoned)

(January 6, 2021)

(Police arrested 53 opposition figures)

(For subversion of state power
including Benny Tai and Gwyneth Ho)

(Both appear in this film as interviewees)

(List of arrests under "National Security Law")

(The list of people arrested continues to grow)

We pledge: No more tears on our land

In wrath, doubts dispelled we make our stand

Arise!

Ye who would not be slaves again

For Hong Kong, may Freedom reign

Though deep is the dread that lies ahead

Yet still with our faith on we tread

Let blood rage afield! Our voice grows evermore

For Hong Kong, may Glory reign

Star may fade as darkness fills the air

Through the mist a solitary trumpet flares

Now to arms! For Freedom we fight

With all might we strike

With valor, wisdom both, we stride

Break now the dawn, liberate our Hong Kong

In common breath: Revolution of our times

May people reign, proud and free, now and evermore

Glory be to thee Hong Kong