Residence Hong Kong | Occupation Interior designer | |
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Born 15 September 1993 (age 23)Hong Kong ( 1993-09-15 ) Education Caritas Bianchi College of Careers Similar Edward Leung, Chan Ho‑tin, Baggio Leung, Yau Wai‑ching, Alvin Cheng | ||
Ray Wong Toi-yeung (Chinese: 黃台仰; Jyutping: wong4 toi4 joeng5; born 15 September 1993) is a Hong Kong activist. He founded the localist pressure group Hong Kong Indigenous with other activists who were dissatisfied with the efficacy of Hong Kong's mainstream democratic movement during the 2014 Hong Kong protests. He took an active part in the Mong Kok civil unrest on Chinese New Year's Day (8 February) 2016 and was arrested later that month.
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Early life and career
He was born in Hong Kong in 1993 and studied at the Tang Shiu Kin Victoria Government Secondary School and the Caritas Bianchi College of Careers and is currently working as a freelance interior designer.
Foundation of Hong Kong Indigenous
He participated in the 2014 Hong Kong protests which is often dubbed the "Umbrella Revolution". After the protests, he formed Hong Kong Indigenous, a localist group, with other young protesters he met in Mong Kok who shared disappointment at the failure of the protests and disaffection with its leaders.
Hong Kong Indigenous continued to organise and participate in other social movements, notably the anti-parallel trading protests in 2015, including the "Liberate Sheung Shui" on 24 January, "Liberate Tuen Mun" on 8 February and "Liberate Yuen Long" on 1 March. He was arrested five times in relation to those protests.
Wong states that he is anti-Mainland immigrant and that the influx of mainland immigrants is undermining Hong Kong culture and abusing the Hong Kong welfare system. He has also stated, however, that he would regard an immigrant as a Hongkonger if he is willing to defend Hong Kong, its culture and values.
Wong also advocates for Hong Kong's right to self-determination, and is perceived as separatist by the pro-Beijing camp.
Mong Kok conflict
In the Mong Kok civil unrest on Chinese New Year's Day 2016, Wong took an active role as Hong Kong Indigenous called for actions online to protect street hawkers from law enforcement officials. The protests turned into violent clashes. After the clashes, he posted a recording online saying that he was unsure what will happen to him, and it might be his “final message”. He called Hong Kong people to continue protesting and make a difference, and concluded by quoting a Chinese saying: "Rather be a shattered vessel of jade than an unbroken piece of pottery."
On 11 February, police raided Wong's home in Tseung Kwan O but did not find him there. Subsequently, Wong disappeared from all media contact. He was arrested at a friend's residence in Tin Shui Wai on 22 February and charged the next day with riot and, on 28 June, with incitement to unlawful assembly and incitement to riot.