CALLUM HILL is from Crowthorne and went to Oaklands Primary School and Edgbarrow Secondary School. He left home to study at the University of Exeter to read History at the age of 18.
He is now studying on a year abroad in Hong Kong, where protests against the government have been ongoing throughout the summer.
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This is Callum's experience of the protests.
"I arrived in Hong Kong on the 24th August and it didn’t take long for me to become immersed in the protests. Within the first week of arriving, the first live round had been fired as a warning shot; footage circulated of police attacking civilians on the MTR (metro) and I found myself stuck right in the middle of a protest, completely by accident.
"It was incredible to see: chants of ‘Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong’ drowned out all other noises. But, with my Mum’s warnings fresh in my mind “stay away from those protests”, I was quick to leave the area and go home.
"At this point I was convinced Exeter was going to cancel my program and bring me back to the UK, how could they allow me to live in a city where going to buy football boots ends up with me walking into a protest - how could I be safe? But I am.
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"Despite all the protests, this wonderful city still functions, and it has become crystal clear that the protesters pose no danger to me.
"During my two months here I have now seen my fair share of protests and spoken to countless people who partake in them, including those on the frontline.
"Not once have I received a hostile response, in fact, they are more than happy to answer any questions about the protests.
"The honesty with which they speak is admirable, as is the modesty that many show when speaking of the negative elements of the protests.
"It is even more remarkable that every single time I’ve been near a protest at least one person has come up to me and asked if I’m ok.
"Do I know where I’m going? Do I need help? If it is in the evening there will often be warnings to leave for fear of the police and their ‘tear gas buffet’ – something friends of mine have been on the receiving end of.
"If I go to film part of a protest and they wish I wouldn’t, there are no aggressive shouts to stop filming, merely a polite request.
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"The whole attitude of the protests is inspiring, they really care for the safety of one another, and they extend this sense of community to my friends and I.
"This is even more impressive when one considers that they have been going on for four months and they’ve only achieved one of their five demands.
"Yes, at times frustrations have boiled over, but millions of people have joined in these protests and the majority of it has been peaceful.
"But violence is on the rise. October 1st, the police shot an 18-year old protester in the chest; October 4th, a 14-year old took a live police round in the thigh; October 13th, a policeman was slashed in the neck by a sharp object.
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"The government's imposition of the face-mask ban has merely exacerbated tensions that were high after the shooting on China National Day and no one knows what is next.
"With Chinese troops massed on the border and Xi Jinping stating that any attempt to break up China would lead to “smashed bodies”, I hope, for the sake of the people of Hong Kong, an agreement is reached soon."
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