From Prison Wall to the Distant Ocean (Part 1) : A Mother's fight and exile

//After her child was sentenced, she lost her sense of purpose and could not cry anymore.

While having a long-needed getaway abroad, she ended up finding herself a political asylum seeker.//

Among the many cases the Bonham Tree Aid encounters, initially, many were about the halt of family income due to arrest and imprisonment. Later, there have been comrades who continue to suffer economic suppression in various forms even after their release. Rarely, however, does the repression extend to the families of those arrested. The case of Kin Ma (pseudonym) shows that it can happen, and is happening. She faced escalating threats simply for assisting her child with legal aid for the case arising from the protest movement. Eventually, she had no choice but to flee overseas. Becoming a political asylum seeker is just one of many painful steps she has taken to hold together her family since the protests.

During the Anti-Extradition Bill movement, many people first experienced visiting detainees and learning about prison rules. Kin Ma was no exception. She recalls the traumatic feeling when she first heard about her child's arrest. Because she was already dealing with a major family crisis at the time, other family members struggled to tell her the bad news right away. When she finally found out, her mind went completely blank.

She had assumed that her child would be released on bail soon after arrest, just like in many other cases. However, from arrest to sentencing, the process spanned over two years. Kin Ma said that every prison visit was "with tears held back" as she worried about how her child was coping behind bars. What was more worrying was the accumulation of cases, which led to unpredictable delays in the legal process.

Kin Ma has been a family woman who was solely responsible for raising several children. After her child was arrested during protests, she was forced to juggle work, take care of the children in school, visit her detained child daily, send supplies to prison, and handle legal matters. The stress of these tasks from all sides gradually became unbearable, not to mention the ongoing social movement and the pandemic.

Kin Ma braved the hardships and visited every day during her child's detention, given that the location changed from Lai Chi Kok to Stanley. Being a presence for her child, even if it was only through the prison wall, gave her a sense of purpose. But the long-term emotional and mental toll eventually caught up with her. When the sentencing finally came, she broke down. The "iron lady" finally collapsed.

From participating in the social movement to her child's arrest and sentencing, Kin Ma's life was turned upside down. She describes herself after the sentencing as a hollow person, where she would sit alone for hours without knowing what to do next. During the pandemic, all prisoners were subject to isolation, and visits were suspended. Kin Ma felt her entire sense of purpose had vanished. Emotionally drained, but Kin Ma just couldn't cry anymore.

When friends and relatives saw her dramatic weight loss, they suggested she take a break where she could stay with overseas relatives. However, what Kin Ma would face was a more challenging and uncertain journey.

During the pandemic, the Hong Kong government intensified its crackdown on civil society. Organisations that supported arrested protesters became the regime's targets. In 2022, the Department of Justice (DOJ) sent letters to all law firms in Hong Kong demanding information on cases supported by the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund. The case of Kin Ma's children also fell into the government's political suppression.

Due to the potential risks, Kin Ma cannot share too many details about her child's case. However, actions by the DOJ and various banks confirmed for her that the case had become one of the government's targets. After seeking legal advice, she decided to apply for asylum abroad in 2023. Given that the continued persecution from the Hong Kong government didn't stop and reports of increased bank scrutiny, compounded with the various forms of harassment against her, she has affirmed her decision to claim asylum. She knows that she will not be able to return home for a long time.

What began as a getaway abroad has now turned into a political exile, the distance between Kin Ma and her family has extended from the prison wall to across the ocean. Looking back over a few years, Kin Ma is grateful that her children were always considerate and united. They have been supporting one another since her mental health deteriorated and she could no longer manage everyday life, until now, when she is forced to leave Hong Kong.

Many comrades face delays in asylum applications due to the nature of their cases or lack of documentation. Although Kin Ma's case has been assisted by overseas Hong Kong organisations, the changing immigration policies in Western countries point to an uncertain future.

Ming Yeung, founder and director of Bonham Tree, notes that one major misconception about the situation of the incarcerated comrades is the belief that once released, they no longer face any oppressions. It is not the case, and those comrades still need our support. As global concern for Hong Kong has faded away over the past few years, it has become much harder to push for policies that support released comrades, including reducing residency requirements.

From the story of Kin Ma, we know that the political suppression not only targets the frontline protesters, but also the people around them. The next part of the story will detail Kin Ma's adjustment to life overseas, her current situation and concerns, and how she hopes to continue connecting with the overseas Hongkonger community.

Illustration: Hongkonger

Text: Vincent Vega

Translation: Kai T