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New Protest & Demonstration Sounds – Hong Kong 2020

While in Hong Kong I got a message on Instagram from a fellow sound recordist who lives and works in Hong Kong. He told me I should record sounds at the upcoming protest. Without much deliberation, I knew it was something that needed to be recorded.

Back in November 2019, I observed and recorded a Friday is for Future climate demonstration in Lisbon, Portugal. Let me tell you, the protest in Hong Kong and Lisbon aren’t comparable.

Meeting at Wan Chai Station

On the day of the protest in Hong Kong, I arrived at Wan Chai station (Hong Kong island) around 1 pm and already saw a huge crowd forming of protesters chanting, media presence and the police beginning to their rounds.

Even with all the people there, everything seemed peaceful and nothing felt threatening or unsafe. I walked around the crowd and listened to the powerful organizer’s speech (that I didn’t understand because I don’t speak Cantonese.) It was clear that his words moved the people and I could feel this electrifying energy.

Protesters & domestic workers at one place

When you’re there as an observer it’s hard not to sense the power of the community. We see these images and videos of protesters on television but it doesn’t impact us like being right in the middle of it all happening before your eyes.

Thousands of people wearing masks, dark clothing and fighting for a cause, is without a doubt powerful. In contrast, at the same location, I saw hundreds of domestic workers from the Philippines and Indonesia, gathering for a different purpose. It was their day off, and in typical fashion, for a Sunday for domestic workers they meet up with friends and family in a local park. They sit on the ground in a picnic-style enjoying food and one another company. Even with a demonstration with thousands of chanting protesters happening on the street next to the park, it was just a normal Sunday for them.

The mood started to change & it’s time to leave

When the protest formally began, the crowd began to march down the road to Central while the police began blocking and obstructing the main street. With nowhere to go on the side roads and the difficulty of returning the way they came (because of so many people being pressed to the side), many people fled into the nearby mall.

At that moment, I knew the peaceful demonstration was shifting moods. Then the police turned all the car sirens on and I was able to record all these sound effects.

I was near to the front of the march and found myself in a situation requiring me to get out sooner than later. I felt the pressure of the people coming from behind and an energy shift of chaos. In this intense moment, I recorded all these moments, screams and shouting.

It wasn’t easy, but I managed to get out and get up to the pedestrian bridge behind the roadblock where I hastily walked to the mall. As I approached the entrance of the mall, my eyes started to burn and I knew that the tear gas had been released.

Then a smaller crowd of people who seemed very scared ran in my direction, shouted something, and wanted me to come with them. The security from the mall opened the door and let us all on. These recordings are included in this library as well.

I was able to go directly to the MTR station and leave the area entirely unharmed.

Conclusion

Hong Kong is a cherished place and loved by so many. That’s why the situation is so difficult to witness & tears running down my face while writing this blog post. Hong Kong is much more than the location for political protests, it’s a city that is like no other.

This quote perfectly sums up my perspective and time spent there.

“You can leave Hong Kong, but it will never leave you.” – Nury Vittachi, Hong Kong: The City of Dreams