A year and a half ago, peaceful political rallies in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) escalated into a wider and more violent movement with thousands of people arrested. Things have quieted down in the city since then, but locals say deep problems remain, and change is needed. 

There were months of unrest and radical protests in the HSKAR. People came out to oppose a fugitive bill that many feared would allow extradition from the HKSAR to the Chinese mainland. Some of the protests turned violent and disrupted businesses from airlines to retail.

Lee was an excavator. He was set on fire by rioters in November, 2019. I had an exclusive interview with his wife. She was tearful and heart-broken when her daughter told her that "Daddy was set on fire by others."

I will never forget her tears on that day. And she chose to turn her back to the camera, because she was afraid that the rioters will further hurt her family. 

As we discovered, many HKSAR residents lived through a lot of fear during that difficult period.

After dozens of surgeries, more than one year later, Lee still has to go to the hospital regularly for treatment. His arms are scarred. He wants people to know what he and his family have gone through.

He said, "I didn't know who these rioters were. They were destroying Hong Kong. They don't really care about Hong Kong."

Lee is not the only victim. Luo, a 70-year-old man, died from head injuries sustained after he was hit by bricks thrown by rioters.

Luo's son said, "I thought shedding tears was something expressed when your heart is broken. But I found that when a family member leaves us, our tears are stuck in our heart… I would tell Dad, I love you."

Those who died will never come back. The city has gradually returned to order, especially after the national security law was established in the middle of last year. However, the deep problem or the threat facing the HKSAR is still there.

Regina Ip, member of HKSAR's Executive Council and the city's former secretary of security, said the most pressing issue now is that there are many loopholes in the HKSAR's electoral system. 

"Under the current system, many people who do not respect the nation, and people who have connection with foreign forces are still able to join the local governing team, as we have seen in the past few years. If they control the majority in the Legislative Council, the outcome could be disastrous," she said.

"Hong Kong could end up electing somebody who is the representative of foreign powers to be the chief executive. So Hong Kong's electoral system needed reform, to ensure that the city is governed by patriots, and not those using the slogan 'Make Hong Kong Better' as an excuse to destroy the city."

And for the families of the victims, their wish is to return to a more peaceful time of the HKSAR with their loved ones in their midst.