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#Opinion by Andy Ho｜"She may wake up in a few years disillusioned with how many of these new blood would end up sustaining the Canadian rather than the local medical services."
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黃浩銘：
//法官閣下，我能夠參與雨傘運動，爭取民主，實是毫無悔意，畢生榮幸。我已花了最青春的10年在社會運動上，假若我有80歲，我仍有50年可以與港人同行，繼續奮鬥。要是法官不信，且即管以刑罰來考驗我的意志，試煉我的決心，希望我的戰友們在我囚禁的時候，可以激發愛心，勉勵行善，更加有勇氣和力量作個真誠的人對抗謊言治國的中共政權。
「希望在於人民，改變始於抗爭」，唯有透過群眾力量，直接行動，才能改變社會。8年前如是，今日亦如是。但願港人堅定不移，爭取民主，打倒特權，彰顯公義。自由萬歲！民主社會主義萬歲！願公義和慈愛的 主耶穌基督與我同在，與法官先生同在，與香港人同在！//
希望在於人民 改變始於抗爭
—雨傘運動公眾妨擾案陳情書
陳法官仲衡閣下：
自2011年你審理只有23歲的我，追問時任特首曾蔭權知否米貴涉擾亂公眾秩序的案件距今已有8年。在命運的安排下，我再次站在你面前，只是當你讀到這封陳情書的時候，我已經不是當年被你宣判無罪釋放的年青人，而是一個準備迎接第三次入獄的積犯。然而，今天我不是尋求你的憐憫，而是希望道明我參與雨傘運動，公民抗命的緣由，讓法官閣下可以從我的動機及行為來給予合理判刑。
8年以來，我們的崗位稍有轉變，但香港的變化更大，充滿爭議的各個大白象基建均已落成，更多旅客走訪社區，似是一片繁華景象，但同時，更多窮人住在劏房，更多群眾走上街頭，亦有更多我們愛惜的年青人進入監牢。從前我們認為香港不會發生的事，都一一在這8年間發生了。當我8年前站在你面前那一刻，我們都不會想像得到香港人可被挾持返大陸，亦想像不到原來有一天大陸的執法人員可在香港某地方正當執法，更想像不到中共政府除了透過人大釋法外，還可藉著「一言九鼎」的人大決定，甚至中央公函來決定香港人的前途命運和收緊憲制權利。
爭取民主的本意
民主只是口號嗎？當年，我痛罵無視100萬窮人及30萬貧窮長者利益，卻慶祝不知辛亥革命本意的前行政長官曾蔭權，並要求設立全民退休保障，廢除強積金，因此首次被捕被控。但時至今日，香港仍然有過百萬貧窮人口，超過30萬貧窮長者，貧富懸殊及房屋短缺的問題愈加嚴重。2014年，我見過一位75歲的伯伯跪在立法會公聽會向時任勞工及福利局局長張建宗下跪，懇求政府不要拆遷古洞石仔嶺安老院。2019年，我又見到一位67歲執紙皮維生的婆婆在立法會公聽會哭訴難以找工作，現任勞工及福利局局長羅致光竟然叫她找勞工處。為何官員如此冷酷無情？為何我們的意見均未能影響政府施政？歸根結柢，就是因為香港人沒有真正的選擇，喪失本來應有制訂政策及監督的權力！
所謂民主，就是人民當家作主。任何施政，應當由人民倡議監督，公義分配，改善公共服務，使得貧者脫貧，富者節約。今日香港，顧全大陸，官商勾結，貧富懸殊，耗資千億的大白象跨境基建接踵而來，但當遇見護士猝死，教師自殺，老人下跪，政府政策就只有小修小補，小恩小惠，試問如何服眾？由1966年蘇守忠、盧麒公民抗命反對天星小輪加價，乃至1967年暴動及1989年中國愛國民主運動，甚至2003年反廿三條大遊行，無不是因政權專政，政策傾斜，分配不公，引致大規模民眾反抗。2014年雨傘運動的起點，亦是如此。
多年來，港人爭取民主，為求有公義分配，有尊嚴生活，有自主空間，但我們得到的是甚麼？1984年，中英兩國簽署《聯合聲明》前夕，前中共總書記趙紫陽曾回覆香港大學學生會要求「民主治港，普選特首」的訴求，清楚承諾「你們所說的『民主治港』是理所當然的」。當時，不少港人信以為真，誤以為回歸之後可得民主，但自1989年六四血腥鎮壓及2003年50萬人反對《廿三條》立法大遊行後，中共圖窮匕現，在2004年透過人大釋法收緊政制改革程序，並粗暴地決定2007及2008不會普選行政長官及立法會。自此，完全不民主的中國立法機關－全國人民代表大會常務委員會掌控香港人的命運福祉，人大釋法及人大決定可以隨時隨地配合極權政府的主張，命令香港法庭跟從，打壓香港的民主和法治。
2014年8月31日，是歷史的轉捩點。儘管多少溫和學者苦苦規勸，中共仍以6月的＜一國兩制白皮書＞為基礎，展示全面管治權的氣派，包括法官閣下在內，都要屈從愛國之說。在《8‧31人大決定》之後，中共完全暴露其假民主假普選的面目，其時，我們認為對抗方法就只有公民抗命。
公民抗命的起點
違法就是罪惡嗎？我們違法，稱之為「公民抗命」，就是公民憑良心為公眾利益，以非暴力形式不服從法律命令，以求改變不義制度或法律。終審法院非常任法官賀輔明（Leonard Hoffmann）勳爵曾在英國著名案例 R v Jones (Margaret) [2007] 1 AC 136 案提出：「發自良知的公民抗命，有着悠久及光榮的傳統。那些因着信念認為法律及政府行為是不義而違法的人，歷史很多時候都證明他們是正確的……能包容這種抗爭或示威，是文明社會的印記。」
終審法院在最近的公民廣場案（Secretary for Justice v Wong Chi Fung (2018) 21 HKCFAR 35）亦道明「公民抗命」的概念可獲肯定（該案判詞第70至72段）。因此，亦印證我等9人及其他公民抗命者並非可以一般「違法犯事」來解釋及施刑。港人以一般遊行示威爭取民主30年，無論從殖民年代乃至特區年代，皆無顯著改進，今日以更進步主張，公民抗命爭取民主，正如印度、南非、波蘭等對抗強權，實在無可厚非。誠然，堵塞主要幹道，影響民眾上班下課，實非我所願，但回想過來，中共及特區政府多年來豈不更堵塞香港民主之路，妨擾公眾獲得真正的發聲機會？
如果我是公民抗命，又何以不認罪承擔刑責？2014年12月，警方以成文法「出席未經批准集結」及「煽動參與未經批准集結」在村口將我逮捕。2017年3月，警方改以普通法「煽惑他人作出公眾妨擾」及「煽惑他人煽惑公眾妨擾」提控。正如戴耀廷先生在其結案陳詞引述英國劍橋大學法學教授 John R. Spencer 提及以普通法提訴的問題：「近年差不多所有以『公眾妨擾罪』來起訴的案件，都出現以下兩種情況的其中一個：一、當被告人的行為是觸犯了成文法律，通常懲罰是輕微的，檢控官想要以一支更大或額外的棒子去打他；二、當被告人的行為看來是明顯完全不涉及刑事責任的，檢控官找不到其他罪名可控訴他」，無獨有偶，前終審法院常任法官鄧楨在其2018年退休致詞提及：「普通法同樣可被用作欺壓的工具。它是一種變化多端的權力，除非妥善地運用人權法加以適當控制，否則可被不當使用。」如今看來，所言非虛。
今我遭控二罪，必定據理力爭，冀借助法官閣下明智判決推翻檢控不義，但法庭定讞，我自當承擔刑責，絕無怨言，以成全公民抗命之道。
試問誰還未覺醒
我是刻意求刑標榜自己，讓年青人跟從走進監獄大門嗎？我反覆推敲這個問題。然而，我的答案是，正正是希望後輩不用像我此般走進牢獄，我更要無懼怕地爭取人們所當得的。縱使今日面對強權，惡法將至，烏雲密佈，我依然一如既往，毋忘初衷地認為真普選才是港人獲得真正自由之路。任何一個聲稱為下一代福祉者，理應為後輩爭取自由平等的選擇權利，讓他們能自立成長，辨明是非，而非家長式管控思想，讓下一代淪為生財工具，朝廷鷹犬。
主耶穌基督說：「我確確實實地告訴你們：一粒麥子如果不落在地裡死去，它仍然是一粒；如果死了，就結出很多子粒來。（《約翰福音》第12章24節）」沒有犧牲，沒有收穫。故然，我不希望年青人跟我一樣要踏上公民抗命之路，承受牢獄之苦，但我請教所有智慧之士，既然舉牌示威遊行均已無顯其效，公民抗命和平抗爭為何不是能令政權受壓求變之策？若非偌大群眾運動，梁振英豈不仍安坐其位？
刑罰於我而言，無情可求，唯一我心中所想，就是希望法庭能顧念75歲的朱耀明牧師年事已高，望以非監禁方式處之，讓港人瞥見法庭對良心公民抗命者寬容一面。美國法哲學家羅納德‧德沃金（Ronald Dworkin）在1968年論及公民抗命時（On Not Prosecuting Civil Disobedience），不但認為法庭應給予公民抗命者寬鬆刑罰，甚至應不予起訴。事實上，終審法院非常任法官賀輔明在2014年12月4日，即雨傘運動尾聲（已發生大規模堵路多日），佔中三子自首之後一日，接受《蘋果日報》及《南華早報》訪問時提到「抗爭者及掌權者均未有逾越公民抗命的『遊戲規則』，抗爭活動並沒有損害香港法治」，更進一步提到「一旦他們被判有罪，應該從輕發落，認為這是傳統，因為自首的公民不是邪惡的人」，由此，我期盼法庭將有人道的判刑。
法官閣下，我能夠參與雨傘運動，爭取民主，實是毫無悔意，畢生榮幸。我已花了最青春的10年在社會運動上，假若我有80歲，我仍有50年可以與港人同行，繼續奮鬥。要是法官不信，且即管以刑罰來考驗我的意志，試煉我的決心，希望我的戰友們在我囚禁的時候，可以激發愛心，勉勵行善，更加有勇氣和力量作個真誠的人對抗謊言治國的中共政權。
「希望在於人民，改變始於抗爭」，唯有透過群眾力量，直接行動，才能改變社會。8年前如是，今日亦如是。但願港人堅定不移，爭取民主，打倒特權，彰顯公義。自由萬歲！民主社會主義萬歲！
願公義和慈愛的 主耶穌基督與我同在，與法官先生同在，與香港人同在！
社會民主連線副主席、雨傘運動案第八被告
黃浩銘
二零一九年四月九日
Hope lies in the people
Changes come from resistance
- Umbrella Movement Public Nuisance Case Statement
Your Honour Judge Johnny Chan,
It has been 8 years since I have met you in court. You were the judge to my case on disorder in public places. It was in 2011 and I was only 23 years old. I chased after the then Chief Executive Mr. Donald Tsang and asked if he knew the price of rice and whether he understood the struggles of the poor. Fate has brought us here again, I am before you once again, but I am no longer the young man who was acquitted. When you are reading this statement, I am a “recidivist”, ready to be sent to prison for the third time. However, I do not seek your mercy today, but wish to explain the reasons for my participation in the Umbrella Movement and civil disobedience, so that your honour can give a reasonable sentence through understanding my motives and actions.
Our positions have slightly altered in the past 8 years, but not as great as the changes that took place in Hong Kong. The controversial big white elephant infrastructures were completed. More tourists are visiting, making Hong Kong a bustling city. At the same time, however, more poor people are living in sub-divided flats, more people are forced to the street to protest, more young people are sent to jail. Things we wouldn’t have imagined 8 years are now happening in Hong Kong. When I was before you 8 years ago, we would not have imagined Hong Kong people could be kidnapped by the Chinese authority to Mainland China. We wouldn’t have imagined that one day, the Mainland law enforcement officers could perform their duties in Hong Kong. We wouldn’t have imagined, not only could the Community Chinese government interpret our law, but they could decide on our future and tightened the rule on constitutional rights through the National People’s Congress Decision.
The Original Intention
Is democracy just a slogan? 8 years ago, I criticised the then Chief Executive Mr. Donald Tsang for ignoring the interests of 1 million poor people and 300,000 elderly. I scolded him for celebrating the 1911 Revolution without understanding its preliminary belief. I called for the establishment of universal retirement protection and the abolition of MPF, and was arrested for the first time. Yet, there are still over a million poor people in Hong Kong today, with more than 300,000 of poor elderly. The disparity between the rich and the poor and housing problem have only become worsen.
In 2014, I witnessed a 75-year-old man kneeling before the Secretary for Labour and Welfare Mr. Matthew Cheung Kin-Chung at a public hearing in the Legislative Council. The old man begged the government not to demolish the elderly home in Kwu Tung Dills Corner. In 2019, a 67-year-old woman, who scavenges for cardboards to make a living, cried during the Legislative Council public hearing. She cried because it was impossible for her to get a job. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare Mr. Law Chi-Kwong simply told her to ask for help in the Labour Department. Why are the government officials so callous? Why have our opinions failed to affect the government’s administration? The root of the problem is that Hong Kong people do not have real choices, we have been deprived of the power to supervise the government and to formulate policies.
What is democracy? Democracy means people are the masters. Any policies should be supervised by the people, the society’s resources should be justly distributed to improve the public services, so that the poor is no longer in poverty. However, in today’s Hong Kong, the focus is on the Mainland China, there is collusion between the government and the businesses, there is a great disparity between the rich and the poor, and multi-billion-dollar big white elephant cross-border infrastructure are built one after another. Nurses die from overexertion at work, teachers commit suicide and old man kneels to beg for what he deserves. Yet, the government policies were only minor repairs here and there, giving small treats and favours to the people. How can you win the support of the people? From the civil disobedience movement in 1966 by So Sau-chung and Lo Kei against the increase of Star Ferry fare, until the 1967 riots and 1989 China Patriotic Democratic Movement, even the 2003 march against the purported legistlation of Article 23, they were all due to the political dictatorship, imbalance policies as well as unfair distribution of public resources. It is for these reasons that led to large scale protests. It is for the same reason that the 2014 Umbrella Movement started.
For so many years, Hong Kong people have been fighting for democracy. We demand a just allocation, a life with dignity and space of freedom. However, what do we get in return? On the eve of the signing of the Joint Declaration in 1984, the then premier of the Communist Chinese government Zhao Ziyang in his reply to the demand for democracy and universal suffrage by the University of Hong Kong Student Council clearly promised that ‘what you referred to, namely “rule Hong Kong by democracy” is a matter that goes without saying.’ At the time, a lot of Hong Kong people believed it. They thought they would have democracy after the handover. However, since the bloody suppression on 4th June 1989 and the 500,000 people demonstration against Article 23 in 2003, the plot of the Chinese communist revealed itself. They decided by force through the NPC interpretation in 2004 that there would be no universal suffrage of the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council in 2007 and 2008. Since then, the undemocratic authority of NPC kept a tight grip on the destiny of Hong Kong people. NPC’s interpretation and decisions can be deployed anytime when convenient to assist the propaganda of the authoritative government, forcing the hands of the Hong Kong court and suppressing Hong Kong democracy and the rule of law.
31st August 2014 was a turning point in history. No matter how the moderate scholars tried to persuade it from happening, the Community Chinese government has used the One Country Two System White Paper in June as the foundation and forced its way down onto the people. Even your honour was among them, succumbed to the so called patriotism. After the 8.31 Decision of the National People’s Congress, the plot of the Communist Chinese government has revealed itself, the Chinese government has been lying to the Hong Kong people, they never intended to give Hong Kong genuine universal suffrage. At that time, we believed that civil disobedience was inevitable and was the only way out.
The Starting Point of Civil Disobedience
Is breaking the law sinful? We broke the law with a cause, as “civil disobedience” is the refusal to comply with certain laws considered unjust, as a peaceful form of political protest in the interest of the public to change the unjust system or law. Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal Honourable Leonard Hoffman stated in the well-known R v Jones (Margaret) [2007] 1 AC 136 case that, “civil disobedience on conscientious grounds has a long and honourable history in this country. People who break the law to affirm their belief in the injustice of a law or government action are sometime vindicated by history. It is the mark of a civilised community that it can accommodate protests and demonstrations of this kind.”
The recent decision by the Court of Appeal concerning the Civic Square outside the government headquarter（Secretary for Justice v Wong Chi Fung (2018) 21 HKCFAR 35) also confirmed the idea of civil disobedience(paragraphs 70-72 of the judgment refer). This , therefore, confirmed that myself and the other 8 defendants as well as other civil disobedience protestors, should not be understood as “breaking the law” in its general circumstances, nor should our sentencing be weighted against the usual standard. Hong Kong people have been fighting for democracy through protest for 30 years already, whether it was during the times of colonial British rule or during the special administrative region, there has been no improvement. Today, we fought for democracy, just as the fights for freedom and democracy in India, South Africa and Poland, and civil disobedience is inevitable. It is true that we did not want to block the roads or affect Hong Kong citizens attending to work or school. But on reflection, didn’t the Communist Chinese and Special Administrative governments block our road to democracy and interfere with our rights to speak up?
If what I did was in the name of civil disobedience, why should I defend my case and not bear the criminal responsibility? In December 2014, the police made use of the statutory offences of “attending unauthorised assembly and inciting participation in unauthorised assembly” and arrested me at the village I live in. In March 2017, the police amended their charges to common law offences of “incitement to commit public nuisance and incitement to incite public nuisance”. As Mr. Benny Tai said in his closing submissions, quoting law professor of Cambridge University John R. Spencer on common law charges, “...almost all the prosecutions for public nuisance in recent years seem to have taken place in one of two situations: first, where the defendant’s behaviour amounted to a statutory offence, typically punishable with a small penalty, and the prosecutor wanted a bigger or extra stick to beat him with, and secondly, where the defendant’s behaviour was not obviously criminal at all and the prosecutor could think of nothing else to charge him with.” Coincidentally, the then Court of Appeal Honourable Mr Justice Robert Tang Kwok-ching stated in his retirement speech in 2018 that, “Common law can be used oppressively. It is protean power, unless adequately controlled by the proper application of human rights law, can be misused.” What he said has become true today.
Faced with 2 charges, I am going to stand by reasons and my principles, in order to assist the Court to overturn an unjust prosecution. However, should the court find me guilty, I shall bear the criminal responsibility. I have no qualm or regrets, in fulfilment of my chosen path of civil disobedience.
Who has not yet awoken?
I do reflect as to whether I am simply seeking a criminal sentence in order to make a point, or to encourage other young men to follow my footsteps into the gates of the prison. I have reflected upon this repeatedly. However, my answer is that, I am doing this precisely because I do not wish to see other young men following my suit into the prison. Because of this, I need to fight for what is ours fearlessly. Although today we are confronted by an oppressive authority, the looming legislation of unjust laws and a clouded future, I shall be as I always am: relentless maintaining my stance that a real election is the path to freedom for Hong Kong people. Anyone who claims to be acting in the interest of the next generation should fight for a free and equal choice for their youths. This is in order for them to learn to be independent, to be able to tell rights from wrongs. There should be no paternal thinking, simply teaching the next generation to be slaves of money and accessories to the oppressor.
My Lord Jesus Christ has said: ‘Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (Book of John 12:24.) Without sacrifice, there is no reward. I don’t wish to see any more young men having to join the path of civil disobedience as I did, and to pay the price as I did. However, I ask this of all men and women of wisdom: if peaceful demonstration in the old fashioned way has lost its effectiveness and was simply ignored, why is peaceful civil disobedience not a good way to bring about change whilst one is being oppressed? If not for this crowd movement, C Y Leung would still be sitting comfortably on the throne.
I have no mitigation to submit. I only wish that the Court would spare Reverend Chu, who is an elderly of 75 years of age. I pray that a non-custodial sentence may be passed for Reverend Chu. I hope that the Court will have leniency and mercy for Reverend Chu. I refer to the work of the American legal philosopher Ronald Dworkin in 1968, namely: ‘On Not Prosecuting Civil Disobedience’. He opined that, not only should the Court allow leniency to civil disobedience participants, but also should they not be prosecuted. In fact, Lord Hoffmann NPJ of the CFA stated the following in an interview with Apple Daily and South China Morning Post on 4th December 2014 (which was at the end of the Umbrella Movement, a day before the surrender of the 3 initiators of the Occupy Central Movement): ‘In any civilised society, there is room for people making political points by civil disobedience.’ ‘These are not wicked people.’ Civil disobedience had ‘an old tradition’ in the common law world. ‘When it comes to punishment, the court should take into account their personal convictions.’ In light of this, I hope the Court shall pass a humane sentence.
Your honour, I have no regret for participating in the Umbrella Movement and the fight for democracy. It was an honour of a lifetime. I have spent the best 10 years of my youth in social movements. If I can live up to 80-year-old, I would still have 50 years to walk alongside the people of Hong Kong, to continue the fight. If this is in doubt, please test my will against the whips of criminal punishment. I shall take this as a trial of my determination. I only hope that my brothers and sisters-in-arms can be inspired whilst I am imprisoned, to do goods and encourage others. I hope they shall have further courage and strength to be honest men and women, to fight against the lies of the ruling Chinese Communist authority.
“Hope lies in the hands of the people, change starts from resistance.’ It’s only through the power of the people and direct action that the society can be changed. This was so 8 years ago. This is still the case today. May the will of the people of Hong Kong be firm and determined, to fight for democracy, overthrow the privileged, and let justice be done. All hail for freedom! All hail for democratic socialism!
May justice and peace of my Lord Jesus Christ be with me, with your Honour and with the People of Hong Kong!
Vice President of the League of Social Democrats,
the 8th Defendant of the Umbrella Movement Case
Raphael Wong Ho Ming
10th April 2019
Hong Kong Stories (香港故事)
https://www.facebook.com/hongkongstories2015/posts/1162049017203767:0
我是姵延，香港出生和長大，小時候經常參加戶外活動，皮膚曬得較為黝黑，因此教練喚我「黑妹」。於二零一二年入讀香港教育大學健康教育科系學士課程，現在是香港羽毛球隊運動員，曾三次代表香港參加奥林匹克運動會。
我性格比較好動，從小便學習足球、籃球和跑步，當然羽毛球也是其中一項。
自小家境貧窮，曾經在木屋居住過大約兩年，後來搬到村屋居住。父母為了維持一家人的生活，每天都要外出工作，沒有時間照顧我們。我是返上午班，下午放學後便與弟弟一起到社區托管中心，那裡有導師協助我們温習和做家課，中心有一個禮堂，禮堂內有一個羽毛球場，亦有其它娛樂項目，如康樂棋和乒乓波，但我對羽毛球的興趣較大。
自小便知道家庭環境欠佳，所以學習羽毛球所需要的球拍和運動鞋，我都是選擇最廉價的「白飯魚」波鞋和普通球拍。我亦非常節儉，在外吃飯時，只需要加一元便可以選擇凍飲，我亦寧願選擇熱飲。現在很多小朋友，可以隨意購買運動裝備，有些還有私人羽毛球教練。有良好的裝備當然好，但以我的家庭環境是做不到，雖然我的環境條件欠佳，但並不重要，一切都是取決於自己的決心。
讀小學時我亦參加過校隊足球、籃球和田徑，但我最喜歡的還是羽毛球。小學四年班時，有一個機會學校帶我們到體育學院打羽毛球，看到專業的球場與學校的練習塲地很不相同，當時看到一位教練教導一名全職羽毛球男運動員練習開球和扣球，我看見他雙腳飛起的扣球動作威力很強勁，令我看到目瞪口呆，這一個動作使我產生了很大興趣，希望可以模仿和學習，很多人覺得我打羽毛球時像男運動員，就是這個小時候的經歷，造就了我現在的男性打球方式。
小四那年我本來有機會進入香港體育學院，作幾個月嘗試訓練，那時很開心，因為有專業教練和塲地。可惜在訓練期間，媽媽覺得我讀書成績差，不讓我繼續接受訓練，那時覺得有點可惜，無奈自己讀書成績差，但我並沒有放棄羽毛球，小四至小六仍然繼續打校隊。
之後入讀賽馬會體藝中學，中一時遇到一位很好的啟蒙老師，他是前香港隊羽毛球教練，他覺得我的技術不錯，認為我只在學校訓練並不足夠，希望我能夠進入體育學院接受訓練。他推薦我給當時的總教練陳智才先生，他還記起我在小學四年級時，曾經在體育學院訓練過幾個月，但後來退出。雖然他害怕花時間來訓練我，過一段時間我又再次離開，最終他仍答應讓我進入香港體育學院。
中一那年開始投身羽毛球青年軍訓練，那時並不是專注訓練羽毛球，亦會兼顧很多其他運動項目，當然羽毛球是我最喜歡和練習最多的項目，那時我較頑皮及很好動，常常不聽從教練教導，而且沒有長遠的想法，只是喜歡打羽毛球，也想不到我會代表香港參加比賽。
大約是中二那年，教練安排隊友前往中國接受訓練，有些只是小學四、五 年班學生，唯獨只有我一人留下，不能跟隨大隊。我感到很不開心，於是向教練查詢，他的理由是我打得太差。因為這一件事情激發起我的鬥志，從那時開始我不斷努力練習，在很短時間我已經可以超越了他們，同時我亦很想為羽毛球這項運動，付出更加多的努力和時間。因為一個挫折，而令到自己獲得今天的成績，感覺很奇妙，所以挫折並不是一件壞事，遇到挫折使到自己改進，願意奮鬥和努力。
中學時期我亦是田徑短跑和跳遠隊員，那時體能很差，跑一個圈已經胃痛和氣力不繼。我明白如果羽毛球要打得更加好，增強耐力是必需要的，所以我早上五、六時便起牀，在上課前跟隨田徑隊，每星期練習三次長跑，為了要令到自己的體能更上一層樓，每天有空閒時間我會跑二十六層樓梯回家和跳繩練氣力。
到了中四那年，教練主動與我聯絡，希望我考慮日後轉為一個全職運動員，他認為一個全職運動員，才可以完全投入訓練，要兼顧學業是很難達到高峰。聽了教練的說話後，我覺得很開心，因為之前的努力，已經令我獲得機會，可以真正為羽毛球運動做得更加好，甚至可以代表香港參加比賽，我亦很想跟著這條路走下去。教練建議我與家人商討後才回覆他，但我害怕與家人提出此事，因為他們希望我能夠升讀大學，將來可以找到一份理想工作。
過了大約一星期，教練問我與家人商討後的結果，得悉我的情況後，他便約了我的家人見面，沒想到教練與家人商談後，我便得到家人的支持，給我一個嘗試機會。雖然得到家人支持，但老師、同學和朋友並不支持我放棄學業，他們的想法十分正常，但那一刻無論別人怎樣反應，都沒有影響我的決定。我明白並不是每一個人都可以擁有這種機會，因此要好好地把握，運動員的最佳日子是很短暫，讀書將來可以再繼續，完成中四那年我便正式成為全職運動員。
剛開始訓練的時候，自己年紀尚小，技術水平亦不高，當時有很多師姐，還有世界排名很高的王晨，很開心身旁的隊友是很好成績的運動員，他們也是我的一個奮鬥目標。每一次訓練時我都會想著這一句金句，「要超越任可對手，要比別人付出更加多的努力」，因為我很想超越對手，除了日常正規訓練，我付出更多時間，自己加倍練習，那時真的很辛苦，沒有想過可以捱得住。我很清楚自己打羽毛球的方式，是需要速度、體能，因為是男性運動員方式，較其他人消耗體能更多，在體能方面我付出了不少努力，不放棄和堅持是很重要的動力。
任何人也會經常遇到一些困難和辛苦時刻，那時候會很容易想到放棄，但我覺得如果是自己喜歡做的事，不要輕易放棄，不想將來會後悔，只要向正面去想，永遠都會有解決辦法。
我在每一個階段都會設定一個目標，最初的目標是希望很快便可超越高水平的對手，每當達到目標時便會再定一個新的目標，不會因為沒有目標而迷失方向。正好像之前我曾經想過，無論能否獲得今屆巴西奧運的參賽資格，我都打算退役，有很多人知道消息後，問我為何突然有這一個念頭，其實我的經歷已經太多，過往比賽亦獲得一些成績，如二零零九年在香港舉辦的東亞運動會贏得金牌，二零一二年倫敦奧運進入八強，世界女單排名，最高時曾排行第八位等。
能夠第三次代表香港參加奧運，已經不是一件容易的事，賽後隊友鼓勵我，「沒有女單羽毛球運動員可以連續參加三屆奧運，但妳可以做到」，這一句話的確很感人，因此我領悟到，我還可以繼續參與比賽，不要把得失看得太重，不要為今次未能晉級而傷心難過，令自己有放棄的念頭。
我感覺到自己已達不到從前的水準，而且好像有點下滑，我對勝負得失看得很重，雖然要求高並不是一件壞事，但往往因為輸了比賽感到失望，覺得受到了很大的挫折，因而產生放棄的念頭。很幸運，後來得到教練和隊友的鼓勵，加上自己的正面想法，我已找到了一個新目標，令自己可以重新振作起來。
我能夠繼續這項運動，已經值得慶幸，有些人想做也不能，因為他們可能為了生活而放棄，或是身體殘障問題想打羽毛球也不能，但我現在擁有的已經比其他人好，最少我現時沒有傷患和仍然有體能，還可以繼續打羽毛球，我不應因為勝負得失看得太重而放棄。我今年二十九歲，全職打羽毛球已經十三年，年紀漸大，再過數年三十多歲的時候便會正式退役。
現在我要享受比賽過程中的樂趣，將來還有沒有突破或更好的成績，我不會知道，也不再想猜測和考慮太多，會盡量享受比賽過程。我已將目標放在二零二零年東京奧運，但我亦不知道那時能否達到水準參加，這是我另一個夢想，如果能夠第四次參加奧運，就是向著另一個不可能的目標進發，能夠參加三次奧運已經是一個不可能，我只想朝著另一個不可能進發。人生永遠都會有高低潮，也是人生必經階段，在低潮中尋找重新振作的方法，堅持繼績努力，無論得失與否，我會享受打羽毛球的人生。
I am Pui Yin. I was born and raised in Hong Kong. When I was young, I often took part in extra-curricular activities. My skin color got quite tanned from the outdoor activities so my coach called me ‘Dark girl’. In 2012, I entered the Hong Kong Sports Institute and studied a degree in Health Education. I am a Hong Kong Badminton Team player and a three-time Hong Kong Badminton Olympian.
My personality is rather outgoing. I used to learn soccer when I was young. I also learned basketball and did a lot of running. Of course, I also played badminton. I hail from a poor grassroots family. I once lived in a wooden house for around two years. I later lived in a village house. To support the family, my parents had to go out to work every day. They did not have time to take care of me. I studied in the morning class. When I got off school, I would go to the community care center. There were teachers there to take care of my studying and homework. There was a hall at the center and in the hall there was a badminton court. There were also other leisure activities. For instance, there were chess and table tennis but I was more interested in badminton.
When I was young, I long knew that my family environment was underwhelming. That was why I chose the cheapest shoes and badminton rackets. I chose plain shoes and a regular racket. I am also very thrifty. Whenever I ate out, I would choose hot drinks because I had to pay an extra dollar for cold drinks. As of now, there are lots of children who can easily buy sporting gear. Some may even have private badminton coaches. Possessing good sporting gear is of course good but it was not possible coming from my family background. Although my family environment was below par, it was not important. Many things depend on your will.
When I was in primary school, I also played in the school soccer team, basketball team as well as, the track and field team. But I still loved badminton the most. When I was in Primary four, there was an occasion when the school brought us to the Sports Institute to play badminton. At a professional court, I found that it was very different from the training grounds in school. At that time, I saw a coach teaching a fulltime professional male badminton player. When he served and smashed, he jumped way up high. It was an extremely powerful imagery. I was shocked beyond belief. The action evoked in me a great deal of interest. I wanted to imitate and learn his move. A lot of people feel that when I play badminton, I play like a male athlete. I can say that my playing style today derived from what I witnessed that day when I was young.
During the year of Primary four, I initially had the chance to enter the Hong Kong Sports Institute. I undertook a few months of trial training. I was very happy at that time because there were professional coaches and a professional training environment. However, during my training, my mother felt that my academic grades were not good enough. She did not allow me to continue with the training. I felt it was a bit of a pity but it was true that my grades were suffering. But I did not give up on badminton. From Primary four to Primary six, I still continued playing in the school team.
I then attended Jockey Club Ti-I College. I came across a good and inspiring teacher when I was in Form one. He was a former Hong Kong Badminton Team coach. He felt my skills were not bad and that my school training was insufficient. He hoped that I can receive training at the Hong Kong Sports Institute. He recommended me to the Chief Coach, Chan Chi Choi. He remembered my time when I was in Primary four and my several months of training at the institute. He also remembered that I have eventually quit. Although he was worried about spending time on training me (as I might leave after a period of time), he eventually accepted me into the Sports Institute.
Starting from Form 1, I focused on playing as a youth player. At that time, I was not only focused on badminton training but would also juggle many other different sports. Of course, again, I loved badminton the most. I was rather naughty and outgoing at that time. I often did not listen to my coach’s teaching. I was also short sighted. I only loved playing badminton and could never have imagined that I could represent Hong Kong one day.
While I was in Form two, my coach arranged for me and my teammates to train in China. There were some students who were only in Primary four and five. I was the only who was not allowed to go and follow the crowd. I felt very upset so I checked with my coach. His reason was that I was playing poorly. That incident triggered me to work extremely hard. From then onwards, I trained rigorously. In a short span of time, I was able to exceed them. At the same time, I really wanted to sacrifice even more time and effort in badminton. A setback enabled me to become the person that I am today. It is a very special feeling. That is why setbacks may not necessarily be a bad thing. When you come across hard times, you can improve yourself. You will be willing to fight hard and work hard.
During secondary school, I was a short distance runner and long jumper. My fitness level was very poor at that time. After running one lap, I would have stomach aches and feel out of breath or exhausted. I understood that if I wanted to improve my badminton skills, it was important to strengthen my fitness level. That was why I would get out of bed at around five or six in the morning and join the athletics team before classes started. I would do long distance running training three times per week. To further improve my strength, I would run twenty-six floors to reach to get home and also do skipping exercises.
When I reached Form four, my coach contacted me directly. He wished that I would consider becoming a fulltime athlete later. He felt that a fulltime athlete can totally devote his or her time into training. If you need to manage your studies, you may find it difficult to reach your potential. After hearing my coach’s words, I felt very delighted because my hardwork from the past paid off: I got a chance to finally dedicate myself to badminton. I may even be able to represent Hong Kong at games. I also wanted to commit myself to walking this path. My coach suggested that I spoke to my family before getting back to him. But I was terrified of making such a suggestion to my family because they really wanted me to go to university and find an ideal job in the future.
After around a week, my coach asked me what the result was after my discussion with my family. After understanding my situation, he arranged to meet with my family. I never thought that after a discussion between my coach and my family, my family would support me and give me a chance to try things out. Although they supported me, my teachers, classmates and friends did not feel the same way because I had to quit my studies. Their thinking was very normal but at that time, no matter how people reacted, nothing was able to change my mind. I understood that not everyone had such a chance. That was why I had to grasp it. The life of a sportsman is very short. I can continue with my studies in future. After completing Form four, I became a fulltime athlete.
When I first started training, I was considerably young. My skills were also not high. At that time there were a lot of mentees and also Wang Chen who ranked highly in the world. I was very happy that there were a lot of high-achievers among my teammates. They were also competition to me. Whenever I trained, I would think of this motto: ‘In order to exceed your opponent, you must work much harder than him or her’. As I really wanted to beat my opponents, aside from normal daily training, sacrificed a lot of time on self-training. Those days were tough. I never thought I could survive those times. I was clear when it came to my personal badminton skills. I required speed and strength. As I also played like a male, I burned more energy than others. In terms of strength, I dedicated a lot of hardwork into it. To never quit and to have persistence motivated me the most. Anyone can come across difficulties and hard times and would feel like quitting but I feel that if it is something that you enjoy doing, you will not easily give up. You do not want to regret it in future. As long as you think positively, you will always find ways to solve your problems.
At every stage, I would plan a goal. The first goal was to beat high-tiered competitors in little time. Whenever I achieved my goal, I would come up with a new one. I would not lose direction because I had no goal. It was like my thoughts in the past. I thought that I would retire, whether I can make it to the Rio Olympics or not. When many people learned of the news, they asked me why I had such a thought. Actually, it was because I had too many experiences and had some achievement in previous games. For example, I won a gold medal in the Asian Games held in Hong Kong in 2009. In the 2012 London Olympics, I made it into the quarterfinals. I was once ranked the top eighth in the world, too.
To be able to represent Hong Kong for the third time at the Olympic Games is not easy. After my game, my teammates told me encouragingly that ‘no woman in the individual criteria has been able to make it into the Olympic Games three times in a row except for you.’ My teammate’s words touched me deeply. It got me thinking that I can continue competing and that I should not take winning and losing so heavily. I should not be sad because I could not further my game at this year’s Olympic Games. I should not think of quitting.
I feel that I could no longer play at the level I used to. I also think that I am losing my edge a little. I take winning and losing seriously. Although having high standards is not necessarily a bad thing, I still feel upset whenever I lose. I feel like I’ve tumbled and consequently, had thoughts of quitting. Fortunately, I later received encouragement from my teammates and coach. In addition to my positive thinking, I have found a new goal. I was able to stand up again.
My ability to continue with this sport is already a blessing in disguise. Some people who want to do the same are unable to because they need to make a living. Or they may have a disability which defers them from playing badminton. But I already have things that are better than others. At least I do not have any injuries and is still fit. I can still play badminton. I should not quit because I take winning and losing seriously. I am twenty-nine years old this year. I have played badminton professionally for thirteen years. I am getting older. After a number of years, when I am in my thirties, I will officially retire.
As of now, I should enjoy the joys of competing. I do not know whether I would excel or gain better results in the future. I also do not want to think or guess too much. I will try my best to enjoy the process of competing. My goal is to make it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games but I do not know whether I will meet the requirements by then. If I can make it to the Olympic Games for the fourth time, it will be like marching towards an impossible goal. To be able to participate in the Olympic Games for three times is already remarkable enough. I just want to reach another impossible milestone. There are always highs and lows in life. We must all go through them. You must be able to stand up while you are down and keep your head up. It does not matter whether I win or lose. What matters most is that I will continue to enjoy my badminton life.
Everyone's favorite minister has a plan for our latest crisis.
A production of http://mrbrown.com
Written by: mrbrown and Marc Nair
Midas Jin acted by: mrbrown
Filmed by: Ryan K
Edited by: Ryan K, mrbrown
