What’s Going on in Hong Kong?

The Michael Shermer Show # 444

Nathan Law is a Hong Kong activist, currently in exile and based in London. During the Umbrella Movement in 2014, he was one of the five representatives who took part in the dialogue with the government, debating political reform. Nathan was elected with 50,818 votes in the Hong Kong Island constituency and became the youngest Legislative Councilor in history. His seat was overturned in July 2017 following Beijing’s constitutional reinterpretation, despite international criticism. Nathan was later jailed for his participation in the Umbrella Movement. In 2020, he was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME magazine. He is the author of the new book Freedom: How We Lose It and How We Fight Back.

Shermer and Law discuss: history of Hong Kong • National Security Law • crimes of secession • how Asia’s most liberal city changed so fundamentally • how rights and freedoms are won or lost • the truth: what it is and who owns it • reform society from within • freedom of speech • freedom of the press • the enemies of dictators • why democracies are fragile.

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[teacherrussell]

Kinda funny, I'm an American in China watching this on my phone, and right next to my phone on the nightstand is my Pocket Constitution 😂 Thanks Dr Shermer. Huge fan.

[alainmaitre]

Hong Kong etcetera . There are some 200 countries in the world, all patriotism nationalism favouritism tribalism, that is very dangerous . Why can't people not get united ?

[susie]

Well, not everything is all bad. At least they seem to have a decent education system. Unlike here.🙄

[bcddd]

Do you get to keep the apartment at the end of the lease? There was never a rent to buy in the Hong Kong / China contract. It was achieve by duress in the first place.
The West has no respect for other people's property.

[deeprecce]

To have a political view or to become an activist is one thing, to destroy and sacrifice the entire city for your political ideology is another. In no small part the state of HK now, with its implementation of the draconian National Security Law, is because of your irresponsible action! Your cowardice action of fleeing the city, letting posterity suffer the consequences of your frivolous endeavour is shameful to say the least!