‘Back where we were’: history repeats for Hong Kong’s freedom swimmers

They came one by one, dragging themselves from the sea on to the shores of Hong Kong over oyster beds, their bodies bleeding. Some had swum for miles, braving choppy, treacherous seas, tied together by ropes. Others made the desperate journey in makeshift boats. They were known as freedom swimmers – hundreds of thousands of young men and women who fled mainland China and risked their lives in search of freedom in the British colony amid the oppressive political movements in China between 1950 and 1980, which targeted “class enemies”. Those who survived to tell their tales were the lucky ones. Many more never made it. Some were shot dead by border guards, or arrested and sent to labour camps. Others drowned or were attacked by sharks. Some were executed – the act of defection was considered treason. The ones who managed to reach Hong Kong, now in their 70s and 80s, have enjoyed decades of civil liberties unheard of on the mainland – the right to air their views, access uncensored news and information online as well as the freedom to demonstrate. Until now. Three months ago, China imposed a national security law (NSL) on the region in response… Read full this story

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