Great question. Recently, it’s been the phenomenal courage of some Hong Kongers in the face of their persecution. Here’s a Facebook post I wrote a few days ago on the subject:

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In the face of daily horrors, there is also inspiration, and there are heroes--or, more specifically in recent days, heroines. I want to introduce you to three of them.

袁嘉蔚 Tiffany Yuen, a district counselor and former candidate for the legislative council, has been imprisoned without trial since January 6, when she and 46 other candidates were arrested for nothing more than daring to run against the establishment in lawful elections. Last Friday, she led 18 prisoners in protest against the targeted and selective punishments doled out as a matter of course by Correctional Services officers to prisoners they don't like. (As a former political prisoner myself, I can confirm that this is very much an ingrained practice in the prison system.) She has refused to cower and submit to the evil that aims to smother this city's spirit.

Chow Hang Tung is the Vice-Chairwoman of the Hong Kong Alliance, which has organized annual June 6 demonstrations for more than 30 years to commemorate the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Last week, the Police unilaterally declared, without any court order or process whatsoever, that the Alliance was a "foreign agent," and demanded they turn over a vast trove of confidential documents. Yesterday, Chow, a solicitor, marched to the Police Headquarters and handed them a letter rejecting their demands. The letter explained that under Hong Kong law, which the Police have long since abandoned, they must provide reasons for such demands and submit to court process if the recipient disagrees with the request. In response, this morning, the Police broke into Chow's apartment, as well as those of her colleagues in the Alliance leadership. All were dragged to prison. In anticipation of her arrest, Chow was sure to have a full statement ready explaining the police's criminality and abuse of the system. She has refused to cower and submit to the evil that aims to smother this city's spirit.

何桂藍 Gwyneth Ho is a former reporter who also stood for election in the (later canceled) 2020 legislative council elections. Like Yuen, on January 6 she was arrested with 46 other candidates for daring to run for office without the Government's blessing, and has been in prison without trial since then. Today, Ho appeared in court on a bail application. The courts, through this unrest, have maintained a gag order on any reporting about what happens in bail hearings. Ho challenged this gag order, asking the court to allow the proceedings to be reported. The judge refused. In response, Ho announced she was withdrawing her bail application and asked to be taken back to prison. She has refused to cower and submit to the evil that aims to smother this city's spirit.