goodbye, 71

In the past few days, I have been seeing the news that 71 Bar is about to close. Some colleagues went to the bar for a small gathering, and some friends posted on Facebook to commemorate the memories of being in the bar. For me, this little bar in a hidden corner of Central evokes some memories of my first days in Hong Kong as a journalism student.

I just came to Hong Kong from Beijing more than 10 years ago. At that time, my goal was very clear. I hoped to be a reporter covering China. When I first entered the country, I was curious about everything and at the same time a little awe-inspiring. Previous impressions of Hong Kong were limited to Hong Kong dramas and pop songs. In the School of Journalism, all teachers teach in English, and my classmates come from different countries, which is a shock to me. But I'm slowly getting used to it. Once, the American teacher who taught business reporting suggested that we go to Club 71. This was the first time I heard about this bar. It was a bit of a tortuous journey as the small bar was not very visible and it took a while to climb up the tramway, but finally I found it, kind of like a treasure hunt. As for what the teachers and students talked about inside, I don't have any memory. All that's left are some background noises, and the feeling of freedom that anyone can speak and speak as they please.

From now on, whenever friends from the mainland come, I will take them to this small bar like a treasure hunt, and talk for a while, and I feel that I am also very artistic and very Hong Kong. Although this kind of understanding is indeed superficial, for a mainland student who has just come to Hong Kong, this feeling is really good.

As I lived in Hong Kong for a long time, I came into contact with all walks of life in Hong Kong. Also because of fate, more than ten years have passed since I became a journalist and started working in an NGO, and I never thought of myself as a Hong Konger. The Umbrella Movement that happened later, the anti-extradition campaign, was very close to me, but it was difficult for me to stand from the perspective of a local Hong Kong person, and it was difficult for me to stand from the perspective of Lan Si, and it was also difficult for me to integrate into the discussions of pro-China family members. My Facebook friends are yellow, and my circle of friends is blue. Can't cut seats with either side. I don't want to influence anyone, and I don't want to brainwash anyone.

People often ask: Does freedom need to be limited? Do consciences make a difference? Everyone has their own values and ethical standards. May we have a clear conscience.