Opinion: The Slow Death of Hong Kong Commentary On April 1, better known as April Fools’ Day, a Hong Kong court issued an unjust but unsurprising verdict. Seven Hong Kong democratic leaders were convicted of organizing unauthorized assemblies. These refer to the mass pro-democracy marches that took place during the summer of 2019. The official sentences of the seven charged activists will be announced on April 16. Shanghai was once one of the most glorious cities in the world. It birthed numerous legendary international writers and filmmakers. During this golden age in the 1930s, it was called “The Paris of the East, the New York of the West.” But after the CCP established its power, Shanghai’s freedom died, along with its beautiful golden age in art and trade. Sadly, Hong Kong is destined for the same death.