Be Water Revolution

As Democracy Further Deteriorates in Hong Kong, Taiwan Proposes Increasing Barriers to Hong Kong Permanent Residency

Brian Hioe
The deterioration of what is left of electoral democracy continues in Hong Kong, with plans by the Hong Kong government to decrease the number of directly elected district councilor seats from over 90% to around 20%. Despite this, the Mainland Affairs Council may move forward with plans to increase the barriers for Hongkongers seeking to obtain permanent residency in Taiwan...
EnglishMay 2023Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements5 min read

Visa Denials for Pro-Democracy District Councilors May Reflect Hardening Views of Hongkongers in Taiwan

Brian Hioe
A report by Hong Kong’s Ming Pao last week stated that at least two current pro-democracy Hong Kong district councilors and several former Hong Kong district councilors have not heard any answer from the Taiwanese government when applying for visas to visit Taiwan, or had their applications rejected. This occurred despite that these district councilors were not intending to flee to Taiwan for asylum, were only hoping to travel with friends and family to Taiwan to vacation, see friends, and sightseeing, and some had successfully entered Taiwan as recently as 2021...
April 2023EnglishSelf-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements6 min read

Largest National Security Trial to Date Starts in Hong Kong

Brian Hioe
The largest national security trial to date in Hong Kong started on Monday, with 47 defendants standing trial over charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion", with the act of subversion being directed at the state. The trial is over the defendants’ participation in or involvement in organizing primaries for pro-democracy candidates in Hong Kong LegCo elections...
EnglishFebruary 2023Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements5 min read

Apple Daily Taiwan Rebrands as Next Apple News, Questions Remain About Sensitive Data

Brian Hioe
The saga of the Apple Daily Taiwan has taken a strange turn, with the announcement by Singaporean entrepreneur Joseph Phua that 96% of the current Apple Daily Taiwan staff will move with him to a new publication called Next Apple News (壹蘋新聞網). The announcement was posted on the existing Apple Daily Taiwan website, along with a statement that the website would cease publication on August 31st, with the new website for Next Apple News launching today on September 1st...
EnglishPoliticsSeptember 20226 min read

Low Turnout in Hong Kong’s “Patriots Only” Legislative Elections

Brian Hioe
Hong Kong held its first “patriots-only” election for the Legislative Council (LegCo) yesterday in an election that was marked by record low turnout. The election only saw 30.2% participation, or 1.35 million ballots cast. This was nearly half of the turnout in 2016, when LegCo elections were last held, which saw 58% turnout...
December 2021EnglishSelf-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements6 min read