“I was really worried, and my heart was burning in anxiousness. I wanted to cry. But I kept reminding myself that I was working, I had to hold back my tears. What was really happening down there? What took the paramedics so long?”

— Carmen

I had already gone out in the afternoon on 31 Aug. The mass rally was originally held in Admiralty, after which protestors adopted the strategy of ‘be water’ (to flow and be flexible like water) and went to Causeway Bay. As night fell, conflicts began in Wan Chai. I just finished a bun, when I saw water cannon vehicles coming from Admiralty. So I alerted my fellow social workers nearby, “It has arrived! It’s here! The water cannons!” Then, we started putting on our raincoats - that’s right, raincoats against the water cannon vehicles. We also had gas masks on standby. Some of us had helmets. We followed them (the protestors) and ran to Causeway Bay, crossed the harbour and walked with them from Jordan to Prince Edward.

We were running along with some reporters, when I saw the riot police start to run as well. We wanted to position ourselves in front of the frontliners. All the running at that time was a bit crazy. The crowd was already there in Prince Edward, then some ‘be water’ individuals (i.e. the protestors) arrived right before we did. When we got there, the MTR staff was closing the entrance gates. There were a lot of people who were driven out by the police from the MTR station. I stood there for a while, and saw a lot of ambulances, as well as a triage station set up on the roadside. My colleague and I shared a knowing glance in light of the sheer number of ambulances. There was a particularly sizable one - I have never seen such a large ambulance in my life. For a moment, I thought it was the water cannon vehicle. There must have been a lot of injured individuals downstairs (inside the station). Something serious must have happened to warrant such set up.

After the Special Tactical Squad entered the station, Prince Edward station was closed. All I could do was stare into Exit E, which made me extremely frustrated.

When we arrived (at Prince Edward Station), I headed further down the street from Exit B to Exit E, since there’s a lift that can transport the injured. When we got there, there was a group of paramedics surrounding that closed exit, waiting to head down and rescue. As we arrived, I also saw the last team of Special Tactical Squad (STS, a police unit) entering the station, and then the exit gate was closed. I kept pounding the gates, and asked if there were a lot of injured individuals downstairs (inside the station). I said, “Seriously, there are a lot of paramedics waiting to head down and provide first-aid. Please open the gates and let the paramedics in!” My plead was, of course, ignored. Nearby, a lot of residents were already extremely furious, kicking the gates non-stop, while I was also pounding the gates. However, the team of STS went downstairs in the end. I continued shouting from the outside. Despite knowing that the police wouldn’t pay attention, I kept yelling, “Is anyone here? Is there any MTR staff? Can you come up and turn on the elevator to let the paramedics in?”

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After some time, the paramedics could finally enter the station. Everyone watched the rescuing situation on the news. We waited for more than an hour, but none of the injured were carried out. I was really worried, and my heart was burning in anxiousness. I wanted to cry. But I kept reminding myself that I was working, I had to hold back my tears. What was really happening down there? What took the paramedics so long? The residents at the scene were crying and shouting angrily. However, we all came to an agreement that we would all help to ask for the victim’s names and their personal information. Hence, we should all remain quiet to make sure we could get all the necessary information to inform the lawyers. Everyone understood what we wanted to do. We were all ready, but we kept waiting. More than an hour had passed, but no one came out of the station. Finally, we saw paramedics boarding a few ambulances and left. Some bystanders saw us and reported, “Paramedics got on ambulances already! Not sure where they were going.” So we got onto the car of one of the residents and followed these ambulances to Lai Chi Kok. We were either not sure why they left.

We arrived at Lai Chi Kok promptly. However, ambulances with the wounded had just left the location. The last few ambulances were simply on standby. There were no more injured coming out from Lai Chi Kok station. When we arrived, we were waiting with some police officers at the station’s exit, so we had thought there might be more injured yet to come. We were utterly puzzled. Why Lai Chi Kok? We were completely confused, and weren’t sure what was happening. All we know was to follow the crowd as we wanted to track the injured. So, where did they go? I had a chat with some residents nearby. I asked them whether there were any ambulances previously. It turns out they had recorded footage of what has happened, and knew that some of the wounded got up from Lai Chi Kok station and left.

A casualty clearing station was set up outside the station on that night, but not a single casualty was brought up even after waiting for an hour.

At this time, I felt that the situation had come to an end. It seemed that there was not much I could help anymore. At last, I couldn’t hold it anymore. I broke down and cried on the roadside. I was so angry. I don’t understand why the STS could go into the station, while the paramedics could not; I don’t understand why the wounded had to wait for more than an hour, and then transported to Lai Chi Kok before they got on the ambulance, instead of getting into one at Prince Edward which was apparently safe at Exit E, unlike what the police said in their press conference; I don’t understand why there were so many ambulances and paramedics on the street, but only 6 or 7 injured persons (were carried out). Did the rest of the wounded just perish somewhere? I felt so guilty, because I felt like I couldn’t do anything. I cried as my fellow social worker friends comforted me for a while before I finally left. It was already 2 am.

That day was unforgettable. Mysteries surrounding that night remain unsolved to this day. I kept my eyes on the news, and it was said that some three or six people died. Everyone was so on edge. I felt especially on edge, since I was there that day. Come on! Everybody really wants to know the answer - we are all desperate for the truth. There was a period of ‘dark hours’ in the account of both the Police Force and the Fire Department during which there was no record of what happened. Only the police and those trapped inside could know. No one knows the truth. In addition, recently, there were multiple mysterious carrion cases and suicides - there were just too many cases. It’s outrageous. The police department do not offer any explanation in response, so there is a lot of public speculation.

Until the truth is revealed, Hongkongers will never give up.

I’m Carmen, I am a HKer.

Social worker Carmen | 31 Aug incident: a sad and helpless night. - “Until the truth is revealed, Hongkongers will never give up.”