"I'm genuinely touched by the sudden influx of attention, but I want to humbly remind everyone that each protester you see in this video is now either in jail, in exile or in some form of hiding. Most can't escape, and now that the decades-old Hong Kong democracy movement has been completely crushed, they'll likely live the rest of their lives under Beijing's authoritarian rule. The protesters knew it would probably end like this, but they did it anyways, hence the rallying cry of "攬炒"... "if we burn, you burn with us".

Most of my friends now suffer from PTSD, depression or perpetual anxiety. Words and ideas that were once debated in public are now whispered in private - or not at all - out of fear that a neighbour or co-worker or family member overhears and decides to report you. I don't think calling Hong Kong a police state is an exaggeration anymore, and it's only the beginning.

Maybe it's too late for Hong Kong, but you can still learn from what happened here. I hope you realise that you're not alone, that your pain and yearning is shared by countless silent strangers, and that when enough people speak as one, you can move the needle of history. I've seen it happen.

Most of all, I hope you remember us."