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32 / Periscope

Family Conflicts they think it is meaningless to set experiences affects ways of thinking,
etty, a 20-year-old student up road barricades and join a strike. Betty says. Her parents are Chinese
majoring in sociology, But Betty believes that when the immigrants with low education
Band her younger sister government does not respond to level and limited knowledge about
found it increasingly difficult to peaceful protests, a citywide strike freedom and democracy. But Betty
communicate with her parents who can be used as a bargaining chip for grew up and is educated in Hong
bitterly oppose the anti-Extradition political demands. Kong. She has been exposed to these
Law Amendment Bill (anti-ELAB) With a preference for local and “
movement since June 2019. international news over news in
The Year 2 student, who declines mainland China, Betty says the My parents are
to reveal her full identity, did not only channel for her to know about brainwashed by
have dinner at home for two months issues in China was during Liberal
after the social unrest broke out last Studies lessons in secondary school. the communist
summer. “My relationship with my She recalls learning news about party into believing
parents was on the brink of collapse. the Chinese milk powder crisis
They said I was not their daughter and corruption cases of mainland that Chinese-style
and did not let me go home. I went authorities which shapes her governance is great
out the whole day to avoid facing negative perception about China.
them,” Betty recalls her ordeal with Growing up in the Mainland
her parents. and Hong Kong with different life ”
The impact of the large-scale
social movement spills over to
family relationships, as heated
debates over differences in political
views and the protests are tearing
families apart.
Betty says she argues with her
family about the political stance.
“My parents think fighting for
democracy upsets social stability.
They label protesters as rioters who
have ruined the city,” she says.
The conflict Betty has with her
parents is not an isolated case.
According to a survey conducted
by Hong Kong Federation of Youth
Groups (HKFYG) in October 2019,
42 per cent of 300 respondents aged
18 to 29 said they often argued with
their parents in the past six months,
among which 70 per cent said the
main reasons were the recent social
events or difference in political
stance. About 31 per cent of another
302 respondents aged 54 to 73 in
the same survey said their family
relationships had deteriorated since
last June.
Views from Opposite Sides
Betty’s parents think fighting
for democracy is unnecessary, and

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