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Katherine Cheng

Photographer + Videojournalist

www.katherinekycheng.com

[2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

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Location: Toronto, Canada

Nationality: Canadian

Biography: Katherine is a documentary and conceptual photographer based between Toronto and Hong Kong. Exploring themes of climate crisis, Asian diaspora, and social movements, she believes in the power of visual storytelling to connect one another and drive... MORE

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (Octo...they pass by a police station.

1 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (October 20, 2019) - A black-clad protestor uses a bright umbrella as a shield against tear gas and surveillance as they pass by a police station.

[2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

2 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

Wan Chai, Hong Kong (July 1, 2...n result in life imprisonment.

3 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

Wan Chai, Hong Kong (July 1, 2020) - A protestor defiantly waves the flag 'Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times' on the first day of the passing of the National Security Law. Following the NSL, these types of slogans and materials can now be interpreted as acts of subversion, secession, and terrorism - which can result in life imprisonment.

[2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

4 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

A protestor dressed in a yellow...ndles, and ribbons in mourning.

5 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

A protestor dressed in a yellow raincoat with black, yellow, and white balloons. Two years ago, a man named Marco Leung Ling-kit fell to his death from scaffolding of a nearby building during social unrest in Hong Kong. Dozens of people laid white flowers, candles, and ribbons in mourning.

A member of the police media li...ure and constrictions on media.

6 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

A member of the police media liaison pushes back journalists as tear gas is fired in the background. On the first day of the passing of the National Security Law, protests erupted across Hong Kong. In 2020, the ranking of press freedom in Hong Kong dropped to the 80th place, with increasing pressure and constrictions on media.

[2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

7 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

[2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

8 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

The top of the Pillar of Shame ...e first June 4th vigil in 1997.

9 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

The top of the Pillar of Shame as evening approaches. Standing at eight-meters tall, The Pillar of Shame statue commemorates student protesters who lost their lives during the Tiananmen Square massacre. Created by Danish artist Jens Galschiot, the statue has been a presence at the University of Hong Kong since the first June 4th vigil in 1997.

June 23, 2021 (Tseung Kwan O) -...nder the national security law.

10 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

June 23, 2021 (Tseung Kwan O) - Apple Daily suddenly closed down after 26 years of operation, following the freezing of its assets and the arrests of five executives under the national security law.

Howard X, a Kim Jung Un imperso...shable up to life imprisonment.

11 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

Howard X, a Kim Jung Un impersonator, holds a plstic blow-up missile with a photo of Xi Jinping. On the first day of the passing of the National Security Law, thousands came out to protest in defiance. Composed of 66 articles that redefine acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign collusion, acts such as this can be punishable up to life imprisonment.

Three police officers huddle to...rested and twelve people fined.

12 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

Three police officers huddle together in a blocked off and empty Victoria Park, Hong Kong on June 4, 2021. For the second time since 1989, a Tiananmen Square vigil was banned in Hong Kong, citing concerns of public health safety. Despite Victoria Park (the typical meeting location of the vigil) being closed with 3,000 police officers deployed around the area, Hong Kong people still showed up near the park, with the flashlights on their phones turned on. By the end of the night, at least six people would be arrested and twelve people fined.

Candles arranged in the number ...unishable by life imprisonment.

13 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

Candles arranged in the number of "6" and "4" can be seen on the ground during a candelit vigil to commemorate the July 4th Tiananmen Square massacre. Banned for the first time in 30 years, there are speculations that the vigil has already taken place for the last time. Up until now, Hong Kong was the only territory in China that allowed the commemoration to take place. Slogans calling for Hong Kong Independence, which can be seen on the poster nearby the candles, would also be banned under the National Security Law in the coming days, which would be punishable by life imprisonment.

On the first day of the Nationa... were arrested in a single day.

14 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

On the first day of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, thousands took to the streets in defiance. Leading up to the nighttime, police can be seen leading arrested protestors onto a bus, who will be transferred to a police station later on. Since the passing of the NSL in July 2020, 93 individuals have been arrested under this piece of legislation, which punishes acts of secession, subversion, foreign interference, and terrorism with up to life imprisonment. In the most dramatic act yet, 53 individuals who had participated in unofficial democratic primaries months earlier were arrested in a single day.

On the evening of June 30, 2020...amp;#39;ve known it, has ended.

15 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

On the evening of June 30, 2020, the National Security Law was officially enacted in Hong Kong. A quiet hush fell over the city. The NSL was announced a month earlier, but the details were not made available until then - not even to Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the top leader of Hong Kong. Composed of 66 articles redefining secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign collusion, it essentially banned all forms of dissent, with sentences punishable up to life imprisonment and applicable to everyone in the world. As night fell, people carefully read through these articles, with the new reality sinking in. Hong Kong, as we've known it, has ended.

[2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

16 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

[2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

17 of 17 © 2024 Katherine Cheng

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Thumbnail of Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (Octob_ they pass by a police station.

Thumbnail of [2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

Thumbnail of Wan Chai, Hong Kong (July 1, 20_an result in life imprisonment.

Thumbnail of [2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

Thumbnail of A protestor dressed in a yellow _andles, and ribbons in mourning.

Thumbnail of A member of the police media lia_sure and constrictions on media.

Thumbnail of [2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

Thumbnail of [2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

Thumbnail of The top of the Pillar of Shame a_he first June 4th vigil in 1997.

Thumbnail of June 23, 2021 (Tseung Kwan O) - _under the national security law.

Thumbnail of Howard X, a Kim Jung Un imperson_ishable up to life imprisonment.

Thumbnail of Three police officers huddle tog_rrested and twelve people fined.

Thumbnail of Candles arranged in the number o_punishable by life imprisonment.

Thumbnail of On the first day of the National_r were arrested in a single day.

Thumbnail of On the evening of June 30, 2020,_'ve known it, has ended.

Thumbnail of [2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

Thumbnail of [2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

Public Story

[2019-2021] Hong Kong Protests: Behind the Front Lines

Copyright Katherine Cheng 2024

Date of Work Oct 2019 - Oct 2021

Updated Feb 2022

Location Hong Kong

Topics Activism, Breaking News, Conflict, Documentary, Human Rights, Journalism, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics, Social Justice

From 2019-2020, Hong Kong was overtaken by citywide protests, also known as the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement. Triggered by the introduction of a Fugitive Offenders amendment bill on extradition by the Hong Kong government, a deeper fear of the diminishing Hong Kong identity and tensions between Hong Kong and Mainland China ran strong.

On June 30, 2020, a National Security Law was unilaterally introduced to put an end to the protests. Composed of 99 articles, it redefines acts of subversion, secession, terrorism, and foreign interference with punishment up to life imprisonment.

Paired with the rise of COVID-19, the streets have been quiet ever since.

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