ABSTRACT
In the past 5 years, Hong Kong has witnessed an unprecedented upsurge of socio-political participation among its young populace, especially among college/university students. Since the implementation of the National Security Law on June 30, 2020, however, much of the anti-establishment activities have had to either disappear altogether or shy away from the public light in Hong Kong. In general, the legislation penalises activities that contravene the formula of “One Country, Two Systems” and challenges China’s authority over Hong Kong’s affairs. The wide-reaching implications of the law, as well as its ambiguity regarding freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, make for an uncertain and volatile context that is felt by not only activists but also members of the general public, institutions, and cultures that have professional, formal, or informal ties to their activism.
In the current chapter, we draw on our experiences of empirical research with young people in Hong Kong regarding their socio-political participation. We focus on some ethical dilemmas raised during our research between 2016 and 2021, such as during the process of recruiting, surveying, interviewing, and protecting the identity and data of participants. We conclude with a critical discussion of broader issues related to future research on young people, socio-political participation, and the changing city of Hong Kong.
