Alexandra Wong Fung Yiu | |
|---|---|
王鳳瑤 | |
 Alexandra Wong during a protest in 2016 | |
| Born | 16 May 1956 |
Alexandra Wong Fung Yiu (Chinese: 王鳳瑤; born 16 May 1956), also known as Grandma Wong,[1][2][3] is a Hong Kong social activist of the pro-democracy camp. She is known for participating in the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests waving a large Union Jack flag, thus gaining international attention.[4][5] She started her activism during the Umbrella Revolution of 2014 and resided in mainland China until her return to Hong Kong in 2020.[6]
Early career
editWong was born and grew up in Sham Shui Po, in British Hong Kong.[7] She graduated from college majoring in accounting and music and at the age of thirty she moved to Vienna, Austria to study vocal music, later moving briefly to the United States.[8]
Activism
editIn 2011, she participated in the protest regarding the Moral and National Education controversy. In 2014, she joined the Umbrella Movement during the 2014 Hong Kong protests and was eventually arrested for her participation.[9] She eventually resided for many years in Shenzhen, in mainland China due to the expensive housing costs in the city but always returned to Hong Kong to join young protesters and always wearing clothes pinned with small Union Jack pins and waving a large British flag.[10] She would change her dress when she returned to the mainland.[10]
After the Umbrella Movement protests, she suffered from breast cancer but continued to cross the border to participate in marches and manifestations. She was criticized by the pro-Beijing camp.[9] Wong also was present at the trial of Hong Kong independence advocate Edward Leung, where she was arrested for contempt of court (and later released on bail) for wearing a scarf with the phrase "reclaim Hong Kong" printed on it.[11]
2019 protests, disappearance and return
edit
After the outbreak of the protests against the extradition bill, she joined the protesters and gained attention for her British flag. She disappeared in August 2019 and was reportedly taken away by security forces. Lawmaker Eddie Chu later stated that she was "safe" after contacting the Security Bureau.[6] According to her own account upon her return to Hong Kong in October 2020, she reported that she was sent to Shaanxi in September 2019, where she underwent a "patriotic tour" and was forced to sing the Chinese national anthem while holding the Chinese flag.[12] She also said that she was never given a written notification of the charges against her and stated that she had suffered "mental abuse."[13]
On 2 October 2020, lawmaker Eddie Chu said she had returned to Hong Kong following criminal proceedings in the mainland and that was being treated at the Tuen Mun Hospital after a scuffle with security officers.[14] Chu also stated that she had been at a detention centre in Futian for "picking quarrels and provoking troubles." and that was later transferred to a prison in Shenzhen before her aforementioned "patriotic tour."[14] After a mandatory quarantine of 14 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China and in Hong Kong, she held a press conference along with Chu and Fernando Cheung where she recalled her experiences in the 14 months in the mainland.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Hong Kong protester 'Grandma Wong': I was held in mainland China for 14 months". The Guardian. AFP. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ Vincent, Isabel (17 October 2020). "Hong Kong activist 'Grandma Wong' returns to protests after detention". New York Post. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ Watt, Louise (18 October 2020). "Hong Kong protester 'Grandma Wong' reappears after 14 months stuck in China". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ Roantree, Anne Marie (3 July 2019). "Flag-waving Grandma Wong gives Hong Kong protesters lesson in endurance". Reuters. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "Missing Hong Kong protester Alexandra Wong 'was held in mainland China'". BBC News. BBC. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Lawmaker says flag-waving 'Grandma Wong,' feared detained, is reportedly 'safe'". Coconuts Media. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ Wentzel, Delfina; Tong, Vimvam (3 July 2019). "Flag-waving Grandma Wong gives Hong Kong protesters lesson in endurance". Reuters. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "王婆婆藐視法庭罪成決定上訴 稱續聽審支持年輕人". Ming Pao (in Chinese). 29 March 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ a b "600天心不息 獨自守望公民廣場 王婆婆真普選夢不滅". HK01 (in Chinese). 2 August 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Hong Kong protests: Union Jack-waving 'Grandma Wong' cuts a striking figure". Straits Times. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ Lau, Chris (8 March 2018). "Scarf with political message lands supporter at Edward Leung trial in hot water". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ Tiwari, Vishai (18 October 2020). "Hong Kong Activist Alexandra Wong Who Went Missing Last Year Was Held In China". Republic World. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ Pang, Jessie (18 October 2020). "Hong Kong activist Grandma Wong 'prevented from crossing border for 14 months'". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ a b c Grundy, Tom (3 October 2020). "Pro-democracy protester 'Grandma Wong' returns to Hong Kong after facing criminal proceedings in China, ex-lawmaker says". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 20 October 2020.