TOKYO-2019

Grandpa Wong

  • Photographer
    Vivek Prakash
  • Agency / Studio
    Agence France-presse (afp)
  • Photo Date
    September 7, 2019

Eight-give year old Grandpa Wong, who is a resident of Hong Kong, is a regular sight at the mass protests that engulfed Hong Kong in 2019. Despite his age, Wong, is a regular sight at Hong Kong's street battles, hobbling towards police lines, placing himself in between riot officers and hardcore protesters, hoping to de-escalate what have now become near daily clashes. He is part of a group of elderly volunteers who aim to mediate between police forces and radical demonstrators in an effort to diffuse tension and prevent violence.

Vivek Prakash is a photographer based in Hong Kong. He has worked as a wire photographer for over 15 years, first as staff photographer for Reuters based in Singapore and India, and then as a freelancer for Agence Fence-Press (AFP) and European Pressphoto Agency (EPA) in Hong Kong. He has wide experience in shooting news, sports and features across Asia, and his photos have been featured on many top news websites, newspapers and magazines since 2005 onwards.