A crowdfunding campaign that launched in late June to raise money to take out full-page advertisements in international newspapers around the world ahead of the G20 summit amassed HK$5.5 million in a single morning, and ads were eventually placed in 19 publications around the world, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Guardian.

“Hongkongers don’t pull any punches when it comes to money,” said Crystal Tong, a 25-year-old student who donated to the advertising campaign.

Other crowdfunding campaigns established in recent weeks include one from the Hong Kong Journalists Association in support of press freedom, amid reports of police misconduct against journalists during the recent protests. It has raised over HK$2.4 million as of today (July 17), just two days after its launch.

A crowdfunding campaign set up by the Hong Kong Journalists Association to provide financial assistance to any member of the press in Hong Kong.
A crowdfunding campaign set up by the Hong Kong Journalists Association to provide financial assistance to any member of the press in Hong Kong.
Image: Screengrab/GoGetFunding

Another, set up by a nonprofit organization co-founded by former top Hong Kong official Anson Chan, hopes to raise HK$1 million to fund a study of the extradition bill controversy. Separately, the newly established Public Opinion Research Institute, which conducts regular polls on a range of issues like democracy, identity, and approval ratings of public officials, has raised more than HK$4.1 million since beginning operations in May.

“We talk about climbing mountains together, and I want to do my part,” said S., another co-founder of HKProtect, the online store selling protective gear. She describes herself as moderate and pro-democracy, and said that she rarely ever took part in marches. But seeing the police beat up young protesters on June 12 made her want to help, even if she wasn’t on the frontlines herself. “The power of the small and many, when collected together, is formidable.”

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