Understanding Supportive, Disapproving, and Ambivalent Attitudes Towards Radical Political Engagement during the Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Bill Movement in 2019-2020: A Focus Group Study

Background and Purpose: The introduction of the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2019 had sparked waves of demonstration that soon evolved into a citywide resistance movement, also known as the Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Bill Movement. The unprecedented social unrest brought forth by the Movement includes numerous vandalism and occupation of two local universities. Consequently, there has been a heated controversy surrounding physical violence as a strategy in the Movement. In light of this controversy, the present qualitative study examines attitudes towards radical political engagement during the Movement among Chinese in Hong Kong.

Methods: Ten Chinese adults and 6 adolescents were recruited via social media and community networks. They were invited to participate in a 4-hour semi-structured focus group interview on perceived impact of the Movement on their families. The average age of adults and adolescents is 47.2 (SD = 5.67 years) and 17.83 (SD = 2.71 years), respectively. The majority (62.5%) are females. The interviews were videotaped, audiotaped and fully transcribed. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the transcribed verbatim. For this presentation, only the data related to Chinese adults' and adolescents’ attitudes towards radical political engagement during the Movement were analyzed.

Findings: Only two participants had participated in radical political activities during the Movement. Supporters of radical political engagement (n = 6) reasoned that physical violence was justified when more restrained courses of action were futile to force the Hong Kong SAR Government to respond (n = 3). Others supported the radical approach due to their perceived political encroachment by the Beijing Government on Hong Kong’s law and core values (n = 3). The police firing of teargas on protestors had triggered one youngster to side with radicalism. In contrast, people who disapproved of radical political engagement (n = 9) found vandalism and violence during the Movement offensive (n = 2), irrational (n = 1), or ineffective for expressing protests' demands (n = 1). Other opponents of the radical approach spoke of their preference for peace and stability (n = 4), or how their lives were severely disrupted by such political activities (n = 2). Familial duty and burden was seen as a situational constraint underlying some adults’ reluctance to engage in radical political activities (n = 1).

Conclusion and Implications: The diversified attitudes toward radical political engagement during the Movement reflect people’s dissatisfaction with socio-political issues, attempts at protection against perceived threat to their values, and concerns about the cost of advocating political changes through radicalism. Present findings may provide an initial framework for counselors to assist clients in coming to understand the rationales supporting the opposing political viewpoints, which lays the foundation for embracing differences and enhancing political tolerance.