CHAPTER 20

IN HONGKONG, 1891-92

After the publication of El Filibusterismo, Rizal left Europe and lived in Hong Kong
because life was unbearable in Europe due to his political differences with M.H. del Pilar
and other Filipinos in Spain and to lead the propaganda movement in Hong Kong and
last was to be near his beloved Philippines and family.

In this time, Rizal continues to study and practice his medical profession. He was
praised and congratulated by a lot of people. He also wrote a lot of things while he was
in Hong Kong. Some were for the propaganda movement in getting liberty from the
Spaniards.

Rizal decided to go to Manila. It was because he wants to confer with Governor

Despujol regarding his Borneo colonization project and to establish the Liga Filipina in
Manila and to prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in attacking him in Madrid that
Rizal, being comfortable and safe in Hong Kong had abandoned the country’s
REACTION
On October 3, 1891, two weeks after the publication if El Filibusterismo, Rizal left
Europe for Hong Kong, where he lived from November, 1891 to June, 1892.He left for
two (2) reasons: (1) life was unbearable in Europe because if his political differences
with M.H. del Pilar and other Filipinos in Spain, and (2) to be near his idolized
Philippines and family.
Before Christmas if 1891, he was gladdened by the arrival of his family, where
his mother was then 65 years old and was almost blind, for she suffered so much from
Spanish brutality, nevertheless, he had a happy Christmas in Hong Kong, because we
was reunited with his family.
To earn a living, Rizal practiced medicine, and in due time he became a
successful and well-known medical practitioner and later on had successfully operated
on his mother’s left eye so that she was able to read and write again.
He then made up his mind to return to Manila, in May, 1892, for these reasons:
(1) to confer with Governor Despujol regarding his Borneo colonization project; (2) to
establish the Liga Filipina in Manila; and (3) to prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in
attacking him in Madrid that he (Rizal), being comfortable and safe in Hong Kong, had
abandoned the country’s cause.
On June 21, 1892, Rizal and his sister Lucia, left Hong Kong for Manila, without
knowing that we has fallen into Spanish trap.