With Hong Kong currently in a huge state of unrest over the attempted introduction of a controversial Extradition Bill, an Enniskillen woman living in the former British territory has described the feeling over there as “very tense”.

Since June 9, Hong Kong citizens have come out in there millions to show their opposition to the bill which would allow criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China.

Angela Cheung, who has lived in Hong Kong for the last 13 years has spoken how the city is on a knife edge, the brutality of the police force against protestors and her support for the protestors.

“The mood is very, very tense. Hong Kong is relatively a safe city,” explained Angela. “You could feel it in the air. It felt very tense and you were more watching your back and where you are going and what areas you are going to. People took for granted it was a safe city but this has brought down the mood and safety in the city.”

Angela spoke about the attacks on the public thought to be by Triads, which have taken place in the last week, and who she believes are working with police as a sinister turn of events and in turn has eroded the belief of citizens in their government and justice system.

“We have lost faith in our government. I mean the government has gone down the pan anyway, the government is just seen as a puppet for Beijing.

“China is encroaching quite fast on us which is why many young people are getting very scared. They are very, very scared about their future, what is going to happen. This is their livelihood, this is where they are born and bred.

“And what’s going to happen to them and for us. We wanted to stay here long term especially for our children and it’s quite an important issue for us because we want to bring up our children but not under a communist regime.”

There have been rumours that China are planing to send in the Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA) to help deal with the protests.

With the heavy handed nature of the police force already documented, the possible mobilisation of another armed force from China is likely to raise tensions to another level.

“Beijing are meant to be issuing a statement. I can imagine Beijing going to come down like a tonne of bricks on what has been going on in Hong Kong. There’s been news going round that they were going to send down PLA to Hong Kong.

“They are quite aggressive. It’s not going to be good. It will probably make things worse.”

Angela’s husband has been part of the some of the protests including the two million people protest on June 16 and with further protests organised in the coming weeks there does not seem to be any sign of the unrest slowing down.

But Angela and her family are in support of the protestors and their fight against Chinese interference in the autonomous territory. However she admits she does not know what will happen next both for the territory and for her own family.

“I’m not sure. The inevitable is China taking over but it’s the timeline people have a problem with. There is no timeline. What’s next are we going to be under surveillance like they are in China?

“As a university lecturer concerned not be able to debate politics in my class. Politics is a huge part of university education. Hong Kong is our home and the thought of leaving actually quite upsets us. Both children are born and bred in Hong Kong and we want them to have a Chinese education and exposure to culture and language.

“This is huge it will affect us hugely but right now we are staying put.”