Hong Kong democracy activists yesterday made frantic plans to cover their tracks amid fears of a brutal crackdown by the world’s most powerful surveillance state.
Many deleted politically sensitive online postings, wiped social media accounts and turned to proxy servers that mask their identities after China announced sweeping national security laws for the territory. Some confided in friends that they intended to destroy their electronic devices. A medic who treated protesters injured in police clashes at underground clinics said colleagues involved in the opposition planned to move overseas.
But amid the dismay, there was also defiance as calls circulated online for peaceful and “valiant” protesters — code for those willing to confront the police — to take to the streets today.
Thousands did so, gathering
