The Lady Liberty Statue of Hong Kong is showcased outside McGill University in Montreal on April 4, 2023. Parkie Li and his wife, Angel, took the statue on a cross-country trip for their honeymoon in a gesture of solidarity with Hong Kongers and to support the democracy movement there. (Courtesy of Parkie Li)
Parkie Li and his wife, Angel, decided to make their honeymoon trip across Canada a meaningful display of solidarity with democracy in Hong Kong. By showcasing a replica of the Lady Liberty Statue of Hong Kong, the two Canadians wanted to send a message of hope to Hongkongers who were forced to flee their home for Canada.
The couple set out from Vancouver in late February, and travelled through Calgary, Regina, Montreal, Halifax, and Ottawa, with many stops along the way, finally arriving in Toronto three months later on May 13.
The Lady Liberty Statue was first created by democracy advocates during the 2019–2020 Hong Kong anti-extradition protests, and they shared their design with Li. The symbol of solidarity has been exhibited in a number of countries to raise awareness of the situation Hong Kong.
During their “journey of hope,” the couple said they aimed to connect with local Hong Kong communities and those who were forced to flee their homes after the Chinese regime clamped down on the autonomy of the former British colony.
“Many Hong Kong people came to Canada bearing a significant trauma. Never in their lives have they thought of leaving Hong Kong, but now that they were forced to, they are undoubtedly experiencing emotional distress,” Li told The Epoch Times.
“Our Lady Liberty statue serves as a motivation, providing hope to Hong Kong people who have settled in different cities across Canada. It signifies that ‘We still remember Hong Kong.’ It is meant to offer them some comfort.”
Parkie (R) and Angel Li take a selfie on Feb. 27, 2023, before setting off on their honeymoon trip across Canada with the Lady Liberty Statue of Hong Kong. (Courtesy of Parkie Li)
The Lady Liberty Statue of Hong Kong is showcased on the grounds of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina on March 22, 2023. (Courtesy of Parkie Li)
A series of massive protests erupted in Hong Kong between 2019 and 2020, with up to 2 million residents taking to the streets at one point to protest the government’s introduction of a bill related to its extradition law. Changes to the law sparked fear that the way would be paved for fugitives wanted by Beijing—including dissidents of the communist regime—to be sent to the mainland for trial.
The push for the changes signified the extension of Beijing’s reach into the autonomous region after the handover from Britain.
Thousands of police were deployed to the city, who used tear gas and rubber bullets to quash the protests. Protesters were beaten, hundreds were detained, and an 18-year-old woman was even reportedly gang-raped by police during detention. At one point, Chinese troops were massed within view of the city.
In June 2020, the Hong Kong authorities enacted the National Security Law, which criminalized peaceful assembly and speech or acts promoting Hong Kong’s independence from China, among other things, effectively crushing the protests.
People demonstrate outside the Chinese Consulate in Calgary on March 9, 2023. As they travelled across Canada, Parkie and Angel Li brought together diaspora groups to call for the release of pro-democracy activists arbitrarily detained in China. (Courtesy of Parkie Li)
“In Hong Kong, direct resistance is no longer possible, but we still remember the events that unfolded in 2019,” Li said. “We may need time to heal and regroup, but we remain steadfast.”
“When people in Hong Kong are unable to voice their concerns, it is crucial for us [living abroad] to continue to speak up and make sure the world is aware of the dire situation in Hong Kong. We must continue to pay attention and highlight the gravity of the circumstances there.”
Raising Awareness
During their journey across Canada, the couple organized a number of events, including public discussions and protests outside Chinese consulates, to raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s growing threat and its interference on Canadian soil.
Upon arriving in Montreal in early April, the couple held a protest at McGill University against the presence of two clandestine Chinese police stations in the city. The two locations are among seven places in Canada accused of doubling as secret Chinese police outposts.
Li said their journey went relatively smoothly, apart from an incident in Ottawa.
On April 30, the Lady Liberty statue was set up on Parliament Hill, where people could view it and express their support. But when the couple returned from lunch break, they discovered that the flag in the statue’s left hand that read “Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now” was missing.
The flag was later found thrown in a waste bin. Li said an acquaintance of theirs, who wanted to take a photo of the statue, told them he had seen two “suspicious-looking” Chinese men lingering nearby and took photos of them. He said he believes the vandalism had something to do with the Chinese Communist Party or its supporters, but he has no concrete proof. He reported the incident to the Parliamentary Protective Service and the Canada Security Intelligence Service.
The Lady Liberty Statue of Hong Kong is showcased outside Amnesty International's office in Ottawa on April 28, 2023. (Courtesy of Parkie Li)
Since the couple’s arrival in Toronto on May 13, the statue has been on display in various locations, including Liberate Hong Kong Square in Markham.
On May 28, the statue will be displayed outside the Chinese Consulate in Toronto and later at York University for a memorial ceremony honouring the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4, 1989. To quell the massive student pro-democracy protests that summer, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) deployed troops, accompanied by tanks, that opened fire on 10,000 students and other protesters.
On the evening of June 4, the statue will be exhibited at Mel Lastman Square for a candlelight vigil commemorating the 1989 democracy movement.
Li says speaking up for freedom and democracy has always been a Canadian value, and paying attention to the situation in Hong Kong is also in the best interests of Canadians.
“As Canadians, our core values revolve around democracy and freedom. Currently, the Hong Kong government only listens to the Chinese Communist Party, and many companies also suppress different voices,” he said. “Therefore, as Canadians, it is essential for us to focus on what is happening in Hong Kong.”
“If we do not speak up for [Hongkongers]—just as there are now many instances of CCP infiltration in various parts of Canada—when Canada becomes heavily infiltrated, we may lose the opportunity to address such situations. Hence, this is a crucial matter for Canada.”
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