Everyone asks why Hong Kong is my favourite city, I really can’t give one answer. When I arrived here for the first time in 2004 I fell under the spell of the fragrant harbour and I’ve been in love ever since.

I’d never seen a megalopolis built precariously on the side of a mountain, which somehow doesn’t fall down – and minutes from this busy city are beautiful islands and tiny farms. In my 20s I was a marathon shopper, so Hong Kong and it’s cashmere factory shops, tailors and lace markets were my idea of heaven.

This tiny region is the home of my favourite cuisine, Hong Kong Cantonese: har gow dumplings and roast goose I can’t live without. The Hongkongese are stoic and industrious people who made their tiny island nation an international financial hub. The cool bars, the ancient temples, the divine silk scarves – what’s not to love?

These unique shops that sell absolutely everything – there’s no need for hardware chain stores or Ikea.

Hong Kong has kept its culture and identity despite being a global city.

All of the beauty of Hong Kong will be lost if we let The People’s Republic of China bulldoze Hong Kong’s freedom, and threat that has been looming for many years and has been largely ignored by the rest of the world.

China’s wilful infringement of the Sino-British Joint Declaration treaty is hardly current news.

The citizens of Hong Kong have shown such fortitude and selflessness during this prolonged attack on their personal freedom. They are fighting tooth and nail against the world’s biggest bully for that freedom afforded to them. How do they fight back?

Staging peaceful protests, publishing their views in defiance of Beijing’s censorship. That’s all. For these actions, Hong Kong’s citizens have paid dearly.

In April 2020, during the peak of worldwide Coronavirus panic, China decided to go on a silencing spree and arrested the high-profile opponents to their regime. This sweep including former legalisators Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan; Barrister and politician Margaret Ng and about a dozen others. Just last week 53 pro-democracy protestors were arrested.

All arrested for speaking out against China, nothing else. They have caused minimal damage despite years of protests and constant police aggression. Looting and violence is not acceptable, and, on a personal note, I have never been more impressed than I am by the good people of Hong Kong. The have my undying devotion forevermore.

The people of Hong Kong need our support in the face of China and their “security laws” being enforced in the middle of a pandemic.

Every country and every person needs to step up and speak out. I’m so please that United Kingdom have started making moves. We can stop the Chinese government one more time if we all push back. If they do this to Hong Kong, what would they do to the rest of the world if we give them half a chance?

We see you, Hong Kong. Stay strong for just a little longer

#istandwithhongkong #freehongkong #standwithhongkong #staystronghongkong #hongkongprotests #hongkongdemocracy