Every Time They Ask, We Say We're Waiting

Every Time They Ask, We Say We're Waiting is a project focused on Hong Kong asylum seekers in the UK. Deacon’s deep connection with these individuals stems from their previous involvement as protestors, which I had documented as a photojournalist. While the UK government introduced the British National (Overseas) visa in response to the NSL, those born after Hong Kong's handover are ineligible and must seek asylum. Many of these young asylum seekers fled to escape criminal charges and consequences tied to the NSL for their participation in the protests. Using a suitcase pinhole camera, the project captures their portraits and personal belongings. The pinhole's poor-quality images could shield their identities, and crystallise the unseen aspects of their lives. It also captures not a single moment but a duration of waiting, much like their experiences in the UK. Each of them also draw their home in Hong Kong from memory, write their daily routine in the UK, and capture everyday life with a disposable camera. These efforts seek to uncover their evolving experiences with time, memory, and the concept of home.