Fragile Bard
| Fragile Bard | |
|---|---|
 Fragile Bard spoke while participating in an international voice campaign in support of the Hong Kong 47 Case | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | |
| Nationality | Hongkongese |
| YouTube information | |
| Channels | |
| Location | LA Area |
| Years active | December 17, 2022 – present |
| Genre | Politics (with a focus on Xi Jinping satire culture) |
| Subscribers | Fragile Items Chronicle: 10,000+ Yuyatlong: 540[1] (December 2, 2024) |
| Total views | Fragile Items Chronicle:576,669 Yuyatlong: 135,459[1] (December 2, 2024) |
| Associated acts | Ruters, Chen Yu-zhen, FunTV (Ba Jiong) |
Last updated: October 17, 2024 | |
Fragile Bard (Yue Chinese: 易碎君, lit. 'Fragile') is a YouTuber originally from Hong Kong and currently residing in the United States. Before leaving Hong Kong, he attended King's College. At the age of 15, he became the subject of an investigation by the Hong Kong Police Force National Security Department for his social media content, which included satirical commentary on Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party, and the Government of the People's Republic of China. His computer and mobile phone were temporarily confiscated during this investigation.[2]
Fragile Bard shares his views and creative works through his YouTube channel "Fragile Items Chronicle" and platforms such as Discord. His pseudonym is inspired by the song "Fragile Heart", which highlights sensitivity to criticism among Little Pink and ultranationalist groups.[3]
History
[edit]In September 2021, Fragile Bard began attending high school and was introduced to the "Citizenship and Social Development" course.[4] The content of the course motivated him to engage in online satire and parody focusing on Xi Jinping.[2][5][6]
On February 10, 2022, five officers from the Hong Kong Police Force National Security Department arrived at Fragile Bard's home with a West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts-issued search warrant. They conducted a search and took him to a police station for questioning about his YouTube account and its connections to Ruters.[7] The police also inquired about other members of Ruters. As part of the investigation, officers asked him to sign a screenshot of his channel and document of oral confession as evidence and confiscated his computer, phone, and other personal belongings.[2]Thereafter, the national security police continuously harassed him, demanding that he act as an informant to help identify more individuals involved behind the scenes of Ruters. This caused him immense stress and unease, and he ultimately completed his Form 4 studies at King's College.
Fragile Bard completed his Form 4 education at King's College amidst this investigation.[7] In August 2022, he left Hong Kong, purchasing a ticket to San Francisco with the help of his elder brother. Upon arriving in the United States, he was detained at an immigration facility for over three months and lived with two foster families before being granted legal residency under U.S. law. He resumed his education at a public high school while his family relocated to the United Kingdom.[8]
In March 2024, Fragile Bard assisted a 14-year-old named Ah Loong, who faced doxxing after founding an anti-communist group on Roblox. Fragile Bard supported Ah Loong in seeking political asylum in Canada, which was granted later that month.[9]
In September 2024, Fragile Bard began studying computer-related courses at university, with the goal of using his skills to contribute to society.[7] He has also supported legal and social aid for individuals like Yuen Hong Tam, a youth who participated in the Great Translation Movement and sought asylum in the U.S. [10]
Fragile Bard has stated his intention to remain active in advocacy, including participation in the Great Translation Movement and raising awareness about issues related to Hong Kong and the Chinese Communist Party through various platforms. He expressed hope to eventually return to Hong Kong if it becomes a free and democratic society.
Fragile Bard participated in international solidarity activities supporting the "47-person primary election case" and mentioned in his speech that one of the defendants in the case is the father of his classmate in Hong Kong. After the verdict was announced, his classmate called him to express their frustration. Fragile Bard remarked: "(One of) my friend, a teenager, whose father only wanted to serve the people—what crime did they commit to deserve being forcibly separated for years?" He criticized the regime’s actions as not merely convicting the 45 defendants but also oppressing hundreds of thousands of citizens who participated in the primary election voting and anyone who hopes for representation in the government. He described this as a blatant attack on democracy.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "About Fragile Items Chronicle". YouTube.
- ^ a b c "15-Year-Old Hong Kong Teen Satirized Xi Jinping, Faced Political Persecution, and Sought Asylum in the U.S." FTV News (in Chinese). 2024-02-23.
- ^ "Column | Online Gaming: Hong Kong Teenager Fragile Bard, Little Winnie Bear, and Freedom of Speech (2)". Radio Free Asia (in Chinese). 2024-04-10.
- ^ "Interview with Former King's College Student Fragile Bard: What Exactly Does "Citizenship and Social Development" Teach? Why Did He Take Teaching Materials with him Pre-exile?" (in Chinese).
- ^ "Hong Kong Teen Fragile Bard, Winnie the pooh, and Freedom of Speech (1)" (in Chinese).
- ^ "Hong Kong Teen Fragile Bard, Winnie the pooh, and Freedom of Speech (2)" (in Chinese).
- ^ a b c "Exiled Hong Kong Teen Begins University Life in the U.S., Pledging to Make the Most of Every Day". VOA Cantonese. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ^ "Escaping the New Hong Kong: The Struggle and Exile of Fragile Bard Under the National Security Law | Education Series | CommonsHK" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2024-01-06. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
- ^ "Cyber Games: Hong Kong Teen Allegedly Doxxed for Creating Anti-CCP Roblox Group Seeks Political Asylum in Canada" (in Chinese).
In a recent episode of Radio Free Asia's program "Online Gambit", a 17-year-old Hong Kong teenager now in the United States, Fragile Bard, revealed that he recently organized the rescue of another 15-year-old Hong Kong dissident, helping them leave Hong Kong to seek political asylum in Canada.
- ^ "Hong Kong Participant of the "Great Translation Movement" Seeks Political Asylum in the U.S."
Yuen Hong Tam's friend, 18-year-old Hong Kong teenager Fragile Bard, who resides in Los Angeles, shared that Tam had previously translated one of his speeches during a protest outside the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles into English and posted it on the official Twitter account of the Great Translation Movement. Fragile Bard said, "He also told me that he planned to seek asylum in the United States, but he didn't share specific details or timelines. It wasn't until he ended up in immigration detention and realized the situation wasn't as optimistic as he had imagined that he called me to inform me of his current circumstances." When asked by reporters if he was satisfied with his decision to come to the U.S., Tam expressed gratitude to Fragile Bard and others who had helped him, saying his situation had shifted from "desperation" to "gradual improvement." He added, "The conditions here are absolutely better than in Hong Kong's prisons—absolutely, absolutely."
- ^ "Primary Election 47 Case｜Owen Chow, Helena Wong, Tiffany Yuen, and Winnie Yu Appeal as UK, US, Canada, Taiwan, and Hong Kongers Hold Relay Rallies in Solidarity".