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20 / Periscope

weakens Hong Kong workers’ negotiation power. a Hong Kong-based e-Sports player after he
“It is not just Cathay Pacific’s issues,” says Tam. “It can also shouted “Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of
extend to any other industries, not only the airline [industry].” our time” during a post-game stream.
He cites China’s boycott on Taipan Bread & Cakes and the Na-
tional Basketball Association as examples. Both of the brands
faced backlash in the Chinese market after their executives ex-
pressed support for Hong Kong protests on social media. Bliz- It is not just
zard Entertainment, the American gaming company, punished Cathay Pacific’s issues…
Timeline of events happened in the aviation industry It can also extend to any
under the influence of “white terror”
other industries, not only

the airline [industry].

Freedom trembling with fear
The shifting political landscape and grow-
ing strong-arming by China are not only
changing the way businessmen do business
in the global financial hub, but also fuelling
a chilling effect on ordinary people in their
daily lives.
Allan Au Ka-lun, professional consultant
of the School of Journalism and Communica-
tion at the Chinese University of Hong Kong,
says that he could not recognise his friends
on Facebook because they have changed
their names and profile pictures to hide
their identities, in fear of being reported by
acquaintances for posting something that is
not in favour of the government.
“It seems like everything is normal, but Colourful sticky notes appear on the Lennon Wall outside HKCTU’s office.
everything is abnormal,” says Au. “You are
afraid of expressing your opinions. You don’t trust
other people, your friends, your boss, or even your
parents, your relatives.” He says this kind of distrust
between people is “terrifying”.
As a former reporter at Television Broadcasts
Limited (TVB), Hong Kong’s largest free TV station,
which has become the target of protesters after be-
ing accused of a pro-Beijing bias, Au makes an anal-
ogy between the self-censorship pressure in the
newsroom he personally experienced decades ago
and the white terror which has recently cast a shad-
ow over many companies in the city. “This is con-
trol through organisational fabric,”
says Au. “Organisational control
is not an explicit threat. No
one will tell you what to do or
what not to do. No one will tell
you [whether] you will be pun-
ished,” Au says. He adds what
authorities need to do is just to
Allan Au Ka-lun