[Ten Years After the Umbrella Movement] Studying in the US, Continuing Hong Kong’s Story Abroad — Alex Chow: Making Peace with Himself
【傘後十年】赴美留學 異地續寫香港故事 周永康：與自己和解
In June 2019, Alex Chow, who was pursuing a doctorate in the United States, briefly returned to Hong Kong and happened to witness the outbreak of the anti-extradition bill movement. During the Umbrella Movement, he had served as secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students and was dubbed one of the “three student leaders” alongside Joshua Wong and Lester Shum. He instinctively wondered how the movement would be coordinated and whether the conflicts of 2014 could be avoided. But events developed faster than anyone could have imagined. After Chow returned to the United States, the movement evolved into “no central leadership” and “no distinction between peaceful and militant protesters.” Later, the National Security Law was passed, and Hong Kong society underwent profound changes. Chow had not expected that it would be his last time returning to Hong Kong.
2019年6月，正在美國修讀博士的周永康，短暫返港，剛好目睹反修例運動爆發。在雨傘運動時擔任學聯秘書長、與黃之鋒和岑敖暉被合稱為「雙學三子」的他，下意識地想，運動怎樣協調？能夠迴避2014年的矛盾嗎？ 但事情比誰想像中也發展得快。周永康返美後，運動演化為「無大台」、「和勇不分」，再後來《國安法》通過，香港社會巨變。周永康沒想過，那是他最後一次回港。