Hong Kong has been sinking since that fateful day on June 30th, 2020, at 11:00 pm when the National Security Law (NSL) came into effect. The city’s glory is gone. The defenders of our core values have been imprisoned or driven into exile. For years, Hongkongers tried peaceful protests, asking Beijing to honor the original “one country, two systems” promise. But our pleas fell on deaf ears. Beijing has since restructured the electoral system, and vague, sweeping interpretations of the NSL have subjugated Hong Kong’s legal system under China’s authoritarian regime. It’s not just the law that has changed; professional bodies—education, healthcare, accounting, law—have all been brought under direct control. Everything we once knew is being suffocated. To put it metaphorically: Hong Kong has failed the “ISO 9000” test.

To me, Hong Kong was always more than just a financial hub. Hong Kong was a city of possibilities—where people built their futures, whether through business, craftsmanship, or trade. It was a place that allowed for survival and success. But that Hong Kong no longer exists. Beijing’s chokehold has stripped the city of its soul. The streets that once buzzed with entrepreneurial energy now feel stifled by fear and uncertainty. The future is bleak, and many are choosing to leave rather than live under constant threat.