But well before any legal proceedings could begin, the people’s anger exploded on the night of September 26 when students breached a security barrier in the fence and entered the forecourt to “reclaim Civic Square”. This came at the end of a week-long class boycott to protest against the National People’s Congress Standing Committee’s restrictive framework for the Chief Executive election in 2017.
Kraft is impressed with what he has seen of student power in Hong Kong. He recalls a march led by Scholarism to oppose Beijing’s decision on the 2017 election, where more than 1,000 people marched from the CGO to the hotel where Li Fei, the chairman of the Basic Law Committee, was staying. Kraft was one of the protesters.
“Twenty people were leading 1,500. What happens if there are 200 students? What happens if there are 2,000 students? How many can they lead? Millions!” he says.
Kraft finds hope in Hong Kong’s passionate young people who he considers to be future pillars of society. “I believe this is an important time for the future of Hong Kong, for the students…They are developing their mindsets of what is good and what is right for the future of Hong Kong.”
His care for the next generation is not just confined to the student protesters. As a father of two, Kraft has been extremely transparent to his children about what he does. His son, eight, and daughter, 12, have seen how he helps people and are being educated on how they can also make changes in society.
Because of his frequent participation in political events, Kraft’s children have had the chance to talk to different people, including members of the Legislative Council. He describes this as another form of education. “People in Hong Kong read the newspaper…They get a one-sided view, that is the newspaper view or the reporter’s viewpoints. But my children actually have more than one view. They have my view, and they have some other views of other people,” Kraft explains.
Fighting on the frontline of Hong Kong’s political battles, Kraft is grateful that he has his children’s support and understanding. “I think their suffering would be much greater if I don’t do something about it. So I may have to pay a high price,” he says.
“I am saying what I feel is correct, I am not bothering anybody, I am not violent, I have a voice,” Kraft says. “It is always right to do right.”
Edited by Sharon Lee
