Global Courant 2023-04-15 17:15:17
HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s sweeping national security law has quelled dissent in the city, but on Saturday the government turned to a giant board game in an effort to promote it to the public.
Outside the cube-shaped Palace Museum, 14 teams faced off in a national security education day quiz game. It’s a concept borrowed from mainland China, which imposed the legislation after massive and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests swept Hong Kong in 2019.
Ms Mandy Chan, whose daughter performed at board game carnival events, said her child is learning about the subject at school.
“It doesn’t bother me much, except that I feel controlled since the law came in,” said the 47-year-old office worker. “But everything should be fine as long as I don’t do anything wrong.”
Teams taking part in the quiz used iPads to answer questions announced on stage by the presenter.
The first five to get a correct answer then sent a member to one of the boards of 16 squares, each denoting a different aspect of national security.
Opposition groups are now effectively barred from the legislature, the streets have been cleared of political rallies, and dozens of prominent Democrats have been jailed for sedition and subversion or awaiting trial.
Speaking at the launch ceremony for the day’s events, China’s top official in Hong Kong said “destabilizing forces” wearing the mantle of democracy and freedom could still return to the city.
“Hong Kong now appears peaceful, but some undercurrents are still simmering and the cause of the unrest has not yet been removed,” said Mr. Xia Baolong in his keynote speech.
On the carnival stage, an announcer asked, “Is Hong Kong free?”
Children in the audience shouted their answer: “Yes!”
Jack, who took his daughter to the carnival, said the law has turned Hong Kong into a place where people can no longer speak freely.
“You don’t know if your words would be picked up by people who disagree with you, and that can cause problems,” said the 49-year-old IT professional, who only gave his first name.
He said he had warned his daughter, who was in primary school, against discussing “politically sensitive topics”.
“I tell her that people have different views on these issues and not everyone will agree with her.” AFP
