Alexandra Wong

Alexandra Wong Fung Yiu (Chinese: 王鳳瑤, born 16 May 1956) also known as Grandma Wong,[1][2][3] is a Hong Kong social activist of the pro-democracy camp. She came to international attention in 2019 for waving a large British flag at pro-democracy protests.[4] In August 2019, Wong went missing. She was only heard of sporadically until she publicly resurfaced on 17 October 2020 at a press conference in Hong Kong, where she shared her ordeal of being held on the Chinese mainland for 14 months.[1]

Alexandra Wong Fung Yiu
王鳳瑤
Alexandra Wong during a protest in 2016
Born (1956-05-16) 16 May 1956
British Hong Kong
Other namesGrandma Wong
Known forWaving a Union Jack flag at the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests

Early life and career

Wong was born and raised in Sham Shui Po, British Hong Kong.[5] She finished higher education, majored in accounting and music, then worked as an auditor. At the age of thirty, she moved to Vienna, Austria to study vocal music, then briefly lived in the United States.[6]

After she returned to Hong Kong, she volunteered with World Vision International in Shaanxi in 2004, and bought a flat in Shenzhen two years later, hoping to live there permanently. However, while she was volunteering, she found "Mainland China is not as simple." (Cantonese: 大陸唔係咁簡單) She started her activism at that point.[7]

Activism

Early activism

In 2012, she participated in the anti-Moral and National Education protests.[8] After the protests, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She took time off from activism following a surgery.[8] In the Umbrella Movement in 2014, she travelled to Hong Kong from Shenzhen several times a week.[8]

In 2018, Wong attended the trial of activist Edward Leung, with the message "Liberate Hong Kong" (光復香港) printed on her scarf, and yelled "Hong Kong has become Mainland China," (Cantonese: 香港而家變咗大陸啦) The judge forbid her from entering the courtroom, but allowed her to watch the trial livestream in the building.[9] She continued to watch the live streams with the scarf, and on 7 March, she was ruled guilty of contempt of court and was fined $1000.[10]

2019 protests, disappearance and return
Wong upon returning to Hong Kong, 2020

After the outbreak of protests against the 2019 Hong Kong extradition bill, Wong joined the protesters and gained attention for her British flag. She disappeared in August 2019 and was reportedly taken away by security forces. Lawmaker Eddie Chu later stated that she was "safe" after contacting the Security Bureau. According to her own account upon her return to Hong Kong in October 2020, she reported that she was sent to Shaanxi in September 2019, where she underwent a "patriotic tour" and was forced to sing the Chinese national anthem while holding the Chinese flag,[11] while repeatedly being asked "Why do you fly your British flag? You are Chinese."[12] She also said that she was never given a written notification of the charges against her and stated that she had suffered "mental abuse."[13]

On 2 October 2020, Chu said she had returned to Hong Kong following criminal proceedings in the mainland and that was being treated at the Tuen Mun Hospital after a scuffle with security officers.[14] Chu also stated that she had been at a detention centre in Futian for "picking quarrels and provoking troubles." and that was later transferred to a prison in Shenzhen before her aforementioned "patriotic tour."[14] After a mandatory quarantine of 14 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China and in Hong Kong, she held a press conference along with Chu and Fernando Cheung, another lawmaker, where she recalled her experiences in the 14 months in the mainland.[14]

In an interview with CNN in November 2020, she urged young Hong Kongers to leave and start a life elsewhere, while saying that it is too late for an "old woman" like her to do the same, saying she wants to "protect young people [...] so they can emigrate to other countries" and added that she would continue her activism saying that it is "impossible" for her to be quiet and concluding that she "is not afraid of going to jail again."[12]

Nomination for the Peace Prize

In late November 2020, Wong was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong after she was arrested over an assault on a security guard in January 2020.[15]

References
  1. "Hong Kong protester 'Grandma Wong': I was held in mainland China for 14 months". The Guardian. AFP. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  2. Vincent, Isabel (17 October 2020). "Hong Kong activist 'Grandma Wong' returns to protests after detention". New York Post. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  3. Watt, Louise (18 October 2020). "Hong Kong protester 'Grandma Wong' reappears after 14 months stuck in China". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  4. "Flag-waving Grandma Wong gives Hong Kong protesters lesson in endurance". Reuters. 3 July 2019.
  5. Wentzel, Delfina; Tong, Vimvam (3 July 2019). "Flag-waving Grandma Wong gives Hong Kong protesters lesson in endurance". Reuters. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  6. "王婆婆藐視法庭罪成決定上訴　稱續聽審支持年輕人". Ming Pao (in Chinese). 29 March 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  7. 麥馬高 (28 September 2017). "【傘運三年】公廣外貼膠紙雨傘 六旬婆婆：香港人唔抗爭就會滅亡" (in Chinese). Hong Kong In-media. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020.
  8. "600天心不息　獨自守望公民廣場　王婆婆真普選夢不滅". HK01 (in Chinese). 2 August 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  9. "【旺角警民衝突】黃傘婆婆藐視法庭罪成，判罰一千元" (in Chinese). 本土新聞. 2018-03-29. Archived from the original on 2020-08-26. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  10. Lau, Chris (8 March 2018). "Scarf with political message lands supporter at Edward Leung trial in hot water". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  11. Tiwari, Vishai (18 October 2020). "Hong Kong Activist Alexandra Wong Who Went Missing Last Year Was Held In China". Republic World. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  12. Wright, Rebecca; Watson, Ivan; Gan, Nectar; Marsh, Jenni (1 November 2020). "Grandma Wong was a key figure in Hong Kong's protest movement -- until she disappeared". CNN. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  13. Pang, Jessie (18 October 2020). "Hong Kong activist Grandma Wong 'prevented from crossing border for 14 months'". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  14. Grundy, Tom (3 October 2020). "Pro-democracy protester 'Grandma Wong' returns to Hong Kong after facing criminal proceedings in China, ex-lawmaker says". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  15. Grundy, Tom (22 November 2020). "Hong Kong protester 'Grandma Wong' to be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize after Friday arrest". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
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