Among the Braves: Hope, Struggle and Exile in the Battle for Hong Kong and the Future of Democracy

Citizen activists stoutly resist an encroaching tyranny in this powerful and moving debut from journalists Mahtani and McLaughlin. Tracing the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement’s opposition to Beijing’s attempts to erode the city’s autonomy and freedoms in the decades following China’s takeover in 1997, the authors profile four activists: Chu Yei Ming, a Baptist minister and long-time pro-democracy leader; Finn Lau, a Hong Kong expat in London who started an organization called Stand with Hong Kong and suffered a beating from mysterious thugs; Gwyneth Ho, a journalist reporting on the demonstrations who was beaten by pro-Beijing Triad criminals and later imprisoned after running for the city’s Legislative Council in an unofficial protest election; and “Tommy,” a young man belonging to a team of militant “braves” who was arrested for fighting police and then fled to Taiwan. Through their actions the democracy movement emerges as ardent and inspiring—until the somber denouement after Beijing crushed it in 2020 with mass arrests under draconian new security laws that levied life sentences for dissident activity. Mahtani and McLaughlin weave an exhilarating narrative, full of fear and hope, frenetic improvisation, and terrifying street violence. The result is a gripping account of one of the great political tragedies of our time. (Nov.)