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“
My right eye only has 2.5 per cent of the normal
vision. I underwent an operation and a painful
yet ineffective face-down recovery last year as
the macular hole is bigger than natural cases of
degeneration.
”
Yeung reveals he received some tons are also used by the police in with heavy bleeding. He also suf-
hostile calls and messages on his Fa- protests during the anti-extradition fered bone fracture on one of his fin-
cebook account after he got injured. bill movement. gers on the right hand.
“I told the media that I did not hate Jacob Chu, an 18-year-old high “After being pressed to the
the police officer who fired, as it is school student, is one of the protest- ground, I shouted my name and
not my intention to let hatred take ers experiencing long-lasting impact school to people nearby. A police of-
center stage. I just want to stay ra- from serious injuries caused by an al- ficer warned me not to play tricks be-
tional and have those who have vio- leged police attack. fore giving me first aid. I was fright-
lated the law punished.” He wrote on Chu joined a human chain cam- ened. My dad was angry, and my
his Facebook on March 9, 2020. paign in Tai Po on September 7, mom was worried about my head
And he feels fortunate that most 2019, in support of the anti-extradi- injuries. They came to the hospital
of his family members and friends are tion bill movement. As he was leav- immediately,” says Chu. A picture of
on his side. “Some of them (Yeung’s ing from the peaceful protest, police him being pushed onto the ground
family members and friends) think stormed into Tai Po Market MTR sta- with a pool of blood around his head
that the price I paid is too high when tion and made some arrests. Chu was was widely circulated online.
they first saw my injured eye. But the seized by a police officer and beaten The 18-year-old was sent to Alice
ever-escalating physical and institu- with baton. His head was wounded Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital.
tional violence against the people
from the authorities and the contin-
uous sacrifices made by numerous Jacob receiving first aid from police officers after clashes with police on September
7, 2019 (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Citizen News)
citizens have shown us that this is
everyone’s fight,” he adds.
“Police brutality is real. It could
happen to you and me. It is also one
of the greatest threats to human
rights and democracy. It may seem
less destructive than military op-
pression, but it may be even more
harmful as it is often committed
in the name of law enforcement,”
says Yeung. “Some people and even
judges would believe it as justifiable
to a certain extent. It becomes the
best weapon of a tyranny as it can be
abused without much consequence.”
Tear gas, weapons like pepper
spray, water cannon, bullets and ba-