Category: feature

【Can you hear us? Mingpao interviewing Yvonne Leung, HKFS / Oct 31, 14 HKT】

In a century of dialogue with the government, 21-year-old Yvonne Leung is the only woman to have represented the Hong Kong Federation of Students. Looking back on her commendable performance, she says ‘No matter how nervous I was, I knew what I had to say.’ Currently studying politics and law at HKU, Leung was already well on her way to paving a path for others to follow. Today, after being surrounded by people, she discovered her fear of being in the spotlight, and says that she just wants to be a good person who does not participate in shady or underhand practices. Leung, tentatively-turned-lawyer, ‘holds dear a lot of things that Hong Kong is slowly losing.’

Fame comes at a price. Yvonne received phone calls where she was sworn at and asked aggressively, ‘When are you going to stop?’ She laughs and says that it’s not a problem. In the occupied areas of Mong Kok, when over a hundred people surrounded her to praise her, shake her hand and take pictures with her she was happy to do so, saying that ‘[She] did not want to disappoint anyone.’ The Internet has an even more enthusiastic response; her Facebook page has over 6000 followers who call her ‘Goddess’ and are very interested in her relationship status. She says that she is single, and that ‘everyone says I have a boyfriend but I’d like to know who he is!’ She shakes her head and repeats, ‘ I don’t like being in the spotlight nor do I think a cult of personality is helpful. She is aware of her position, and says that ‘I am different to Alex (Chow, HKFS Secretary-General) and Lester (Shum, Deputy Secretary-General) as I’m a general committee member and want to do things that they normally are not able to do. To avoid furore in the streets, she stayed in the occupied areas until late at night, chatting with protestors. ‘I don’t know if the people on the streets feel like there is a lack of direction. In my experience, they are not sure if staying on the streets will end in an exit strategy.’ Dialogue with the government has not swayed the decision of the NPCSC, but it has certainly changed Leung’s life path. Years ago she worked a summer internship with the Civic Party before continuing with her studies of law and politics; now the Occupy movement has resulted in some reflection. Leung says ‘the politics are not effective. But I’m not saying I am the most suitable candidate either, I definitely see things in black and white.’ She is now focused on her goal of becoming a human rights lawyer. However, she has not been to university in a few months nor completed any assignments. Some students have postponed their studies for a year to focus on work, but Leung feels ‘it’s not worth it, as the assignments will eventually be done.’

Her parents are worried for her. Although they understand and support the Occupy movement, they worry that the students don’t grasp the concept of ‘quitting while you’re ahead’ and that history may repeat itself. Yvonne sleeps 5 to 6 hours a night, but this is the only time she spends at home. The rest of her day is divided between the three Occupy areas, the HKFS offices and her university dorm. ‘[My parents] think that it’s unwise for me to put my full energy into this, but it’s difficult not to as there is always something happening, from dawn til dusk.’ Yvonne’s phone was buzzing throughout the interview with messages and calls, one of which was Mrs. Leung asking her daughter to come home for dinner.

Her younger brother, who is in the final years of high school, is as involved in Occupy Hong Kong as his sister. He was one of many protestors who took refuge in the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts on Sept 28th when tear gas was fired on the students. Like their mother, he sends her messages from time to time, usually offering to buy her dinner. She smiles sadly at the messages.

Hong Kong’s future is on their shoulders and the pressure is indescribable. Although she is calm and collected on stage, she admits that she is a crybaby at heart and will call good friends in tears when she feels under pressure. Her friends have learned to jokingly reply now, ‘Have you used up your crying time today? There is something for you to be unhappy about every day’. After the interview, she puts on a yellow pair of flip-flops and goes home to drink her mother’s soup.

Original article http://news.mingpao.com/pns1410311414691862801 thank you to the unknown translator