“This excellent book is an inspiring reminder of the vital importance of a free press in any society that is struggling with difficult social and political problems. Throughout 2019, international observers relied on the South China Morning Post to reveal the full complexity of the Hong Kong situation. This book provides a chance for readers to reflect on what happened, and draw lessons for the future.”
Kurt Tong, former United States Consul General to Hong Kong and Partner at The Asia Group
“One of the British Prime Ministers once complained of bias in the media and he was asked in which direction, and he said it’s biased in every direction.” – Chris Patten. The events in 2019 shocked and polarized Hong Kong. A fearless and vibrant press is indispensable in such times. It is the price to pay for a free and pluralistic society that the press provokes disagreement, irritates, or even occasionally gets it wrong. The pieces in this volume will not – and are not designed to – please everybody. This is in the best traditions of the Post – long may it continue. I congratulate the Post for a job well done.”
Paul Shieh SC, former Chairman, Hong Kong Bar Association
“As mentioned in this book, the protests in Hong Kong against the extradition bill of 2019 were ‘among the world’s most visible political events in history’. Like the 2003 protest against the national security bill and the ‘umbrella movement’ of 2014, the 2019 movement was a watershed moment that raised fundamental questions about the future of ‘one country, two systems’. This book, written by South China Morning Post journalists who eyewitnessed the turmoil is an indispensable guide for anyone who wants to know what happened and to understand why.”
Albert H.Y. Chen, Cheng Chan Lan Yue Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Hong Kong, and member of the Basic Law Committee
“2019 was a turbulent and tumultuous year for Hong Kong. Events followed fast upon each other. This collection of stories, interviews and analysis by seasoned reporters from the South China Morning Post performs the crucial service of recording what happened, asking why it happened, and, most important of all, not rushing to any quick conclusions. A powerful, and at times moving, account of a city under siege, but trying to find its way.”
Kerry Brown, Director, Lau China Institute, King’s College London
SCMP Team
| Editors: | Zuraidah Ibrahim, Jeffie Lam |
| Writers: | Raquel Carvalho, Gary Cheung, Kimmy Chung, Owen Churchill, Robert Delaney, Nectar Gan, Kristin Huang, Zuraidah Ibrahim, Jeffie Lam, Chris Lau, Mimi Lau, Danny Lee, Christy Leung, Linda Lew, Clifford Lo, Kinling Lo, Alvin Lum, Danny Mok, Andrew Raine, Dewey Sim, Jasmine Siu, Phila Siu, Sum Lok-kei, Fiona Sun, Crystal Tai, Victor Ting, Meaghan Tobin, Denise Tsang, Emily Tsang, Wang Xiangwei, Natalie Wong, Cannix Yau |
| Commentaries: | Cliff Buddle, Chow Chung-yan, Cary Huang, Yonden Lhatoo, Tammy Tam, Wang Xiangwei |
| Designer: | Huy Truong |
| Copyeditors: | Alan John, James Legge, Andrew Raine, Tan Yi Hui |
| Photo editor: | Robert Ng |
| WSPC Team | |
| Desk editors: | Jiang Yulin, Nicole Ong, Katie Tsoi |
| Page layout: | Jimmy Low |
Published by
World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.
5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore 596224
USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite 401-402, Hackensack, NJ 07601
UK office: 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE
and
South China Morning Post Publishers Limited
19/F, Tower One, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
National Library Board, Singapore Cataloguing in Publication Data
Name(s): Zuraidah Ibrahim, editor. | Lam, Jeffie, editor.
Title: Rebel city : Hong Kong’s year of water and fire / edited by Zuraidah Ibrahim & Jeffie Lam.
Description: Singapore : World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd ; Hong Kong : South China Morning Post Publishers Limited, [2020] | Includes index.
Identifier(s): OCN 1140723502 | ISBN 978-981-121-859-0 (hardback) | ISBN 978-981-121-860-6 (paperback) | ISBN 978-981-121-861-3 (electronicbook for institutions) | ISBN 978-981-121-862-0 (electronic book)
Subject(s): LCSH: Hong Kong Protests, Hong Kong, China, 2019– | Protest movements--China--Hong Kong. | Civil disobedience--China--Hong Kong. | Hong Kong (China)--Politics and government--1997–
Classification: DDC 322.44095125--dc23
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Copyright © 2020 by South China Morning Post Publishers Limited
All rights reserved.
For any available supplementary material, please visit
https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/11777#t=suppl
Printed in Singapore
CONTENTS
Top girl Carrie Lam takes a city to the brink
•The murder behind Hong Kong’s worst political crisis
•Kill bill: The law that tore a city apart
•Chaos in Legco: The pan-democrats’ campaign
On one mat, no matter how perilous