One night when Phoebe Ng was 16, she found herself glued to the news, watching police fire tear gas on scores of peaceful pro-democracy protesters.

It was Sept 28, 2014 and the opening salvoes of the Umbrella Movement had sounded.

The protests, which lasted 79 days that year, reared a new generation of activists – then teens, and now university students – who have again flooded the streets to demand the government pay attention.

“In 2014, I was only 16, so I didn’t dare to go out,” said Ms Ng.  “As an adult now, I think people should shoulder the responsibility of being a good citizen – not listening to the government without thinking, but for the sake of our society.”

Hong Kong has long enjoyed…

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