UPDATE: On February 28th, 2021, the young politician we profiled in this episode, Fergus Leung, and 46 other pro-Democracy activists and lawmakers were charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion,” a violation of Hong Kong’s new National Security Law. As of this update (March 3, 2021) they are all still incarcerated awaiting trial. If convicted, Leung faces a multiple-year prison sentence.

In a pre-dawn raid on January 6th, hundreds of Hong Kong police fanned out across the city in a coordinated operation to arrest dozens of pro-democracy activists and lawmakers in a single sweep. It was the biggest crackdown on the city’s democracy movement and the latest Chinese government effort to curb dissent. 

We go to Hong Kong to spend time with one of the people rounded up -- a 23-year old local politician -- and hear from VICE correspondent Laurel Chor about what led up to that day. Is this the end of Hong Kong’s nascent democracy? 

Reporting from Viola Zhou in Hong Kong. Produced by Jesse Alejandro Cottrell.

VICE News Reports is produced by Jesse Alejandro Cottrell, Jen Kinney, Janice Llamoca and Julia Nutter. Our senior producers are Ashley Cleek and Adizah Eghan. Our associate producers are Sam Eagan, Sophie Kazis, and Adreanna Rodriguez. Sound Design and music composition by Steve Bone and Kyle Murdock. 

Our executive Producer and VP of Vice Audio is Kate Osborn. Janet Lee is Senior Production Manager for VICE Audio. Production coordination by Steph Brown. Fact Checking by Nicole Pasulka.

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