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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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#47Democrats
Defiant Football Fans in Hong Kong Vow Support to Democrats Despite the Threat of #NationalSecurityLaw

During a premier league match in Hong Kong between football teams Kitchee and Eastern Long Lions held at the Mong Kok Stadium on the evening of March 19, 2021 at 8 pm, football fans applauded exactly at the 47th minute into the match.

The was the second time in the row the last week before where football fans clapped hands to rally support to the 47 democrats arrested for part-taking Legislative Council primary election and charged with "conspiracy to subvert state power".

Football fans clapped hands and chanted slogans such as, “rally support our fellow protesters till the end”, on at least four match days so far since the opening of the Premier League in Hong Kong in March 2021.

Source: Stand News; #Mar19
https://fb.watch/4l5BveamqE/

#Football #PremierLeague #MassArrest #Democrats #Save47 #Kitchee #EasternLongLions #MongKokStadium
#FirstHand #May31
Hongkongers Voice Support for Pro-democracy Activists Charged with National Security Law

Photos: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29846

On May 31, 2021, 47 pro-democracy activists and former legislators appeared in the the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts.

Many Hongkongers went to the court to show their support to the pro-democracy activists. Despite the hot weather, a huge crowd queued up, hoping to get a seat to look at the trial in thd public gallery of the court house.

Some of them chanted slogans of encouragement and signed “five demands, not one less” outside the court. The police cordoned off the area and monitored the crowd closely.

The case of the 47 pro-democracy activists marks one of the largest crackdowns on civil society by the Hong Kong authorities. They were arrested in January 2021 for breaching the national security law that was imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong since June 2020. The authorities' accusation was based on their participation a primary election among the democratic camp in July 2020.

#Save47 #Court #Solidarity #NeverGiveUp #HongKongProtests #PoliceState #Crackdown #47Democrats #PoliticalPrisoners #PoliticalProsecution
#FirstHand #May31
Hong Kong Court Refuses to Answer Whether Jury Trial Would Take Place for #47Democrats

On May 31, 2021, the 47 Hong Kong pro-democracy advocates charged with national security breaches appeared at the West Kowloon Magistracy.

The prosecution demanded the case to be transferred to the High Court, which could impose penalties of up to life imprisonment.

The counsel – representing 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung, Jimmy Sham and Lester Shum – asked the court whether a jury trial would take place. However, the Chief Magistrate Victor So did not give any answer.

Out of the 47 defendants, only 11 were previously granted bail. They showed up at the hearing to support the other 36 who have been detained for more than 90 days.

#Save47 #Court #Solidarity #NeverGiveUp #HongKongProtests #PoliceState #Crackdown #47Democrats #PoliticalPrisoners #PoliticalProsecution

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Hongkongers Voice Support for Pro-democracy Activists Charged with National Security Law

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/
#FirstHand #May31
Ex-Lawmaker #EmilyLau Calls Out Unfairness in NSL Trial Procedures, As Hundreds Gather Outside 47 Democrats' Court Hearing

Video: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29878

Former Democratic Party chairperson Emily Lau was among the large crowds of Hongkongers who turned out on Monday, May 31, 2021, in support of the #47Democrats, who appeared in court at the West Kowloon Magistracy,

"I'm not a lawyer," Lau said, "but I think that if they haven't finished investigations -- and it could go on for who knows how many more months, how many more years -- then finish it first, and let the people go! Why keep them all locked up?"

"This is not how things used to work in Hong Kong." said Lau, who had been involved in politics since the first direct election of LegCo in 1991. "That's why you see so many people coming out today. Everybody is incensed."

"You have to be more fair," Lau continued.

"Others have also said the same thing: free the people first, then they can take as long as they want with the investigations. But no, they haven't gathered enough evidence, they said; they needed to investigate carefully, they said."

"It's handled so badly! How could they do this?"

The case is adjourned until July 8, 2021, when the 47 Democrats will appear in court again. The 36 defendants who had not been granted bail continue to be held in custody.

#Court #NationalSecurityLaw
#PoliticalProsecution #PoliceState #Save47 #Interview #Video

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Related Stories:

Hong Kong Court Refuses to Answer Whether Jury Trial Would Take Place for #47Democrats

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29857

Hongkongers Voice Support for Pro-democracy Activists Charged with National Security Law
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29846
#Hongkongers #NeverGiveUp
Detained HK Activist #OwenChow: Good Works Are Always Born in the Worst of Times

On June 22, 2021, Owen Chow, a 24-year-old pro-democracy activist, was finally granted bail after being detained for months.

Chow was among the 47 pro-democracy figures who were arrested by the police for participating in the Primary Election of the pro-democracy camp in 2020. They were charged with subverting the state under the National Security Law.

Among the 47 people detained, Chow is only the 12th person who has been granted bail; however, he was barred by the High Court from making any speeches or take part in any action that could be seen as "endangering national security". He cannot participate in any elections or contact foreign officials.

In addition, Chow has to surrender all his travel documents and not to leave Hong Kong. He has to report to the police every evening and observe an overnight curfew.

Leaving the detention center for the moment, Chow said to the journalists, "Good works are always born in the worst of times."

Source: Stand News; Apple Daily; RTHK #Jun22

https://bit.ly/3vW96Rz

#Save47 #PoliticalSuppression #PoliticalPrisoners #Bail #HighCourt
#Save47 #Court
After One Year of Detention, Prosecution Documents Are Still Not Ready

Source: You are not alone Telegram Channel #Nov29

Image: Stand News

Read more
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31545
#Save47 #Court
After One Year of Detention, Prosecution Documents Are Still Not Ready

As of November 2021, most of the "47 democrats" in Hong Kong have been detained for 8 months after being arrested for "conspiring to subvert state power" under the #NationalSecurityLaw (#NSL). They were charged over the #PrimaryElection which was held on July 11 and 12, 2020.

On November 29, 2021, a trial took place at the West-Kowloon Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong.

The defence informed the magistrate about their intention of confessing their accusation.

One of the defendants told the magistrate #LawTakChuenPeter that he has dismissed his legal aid counsel and would defend himself. He also made a complaint about the prosecutor who failed to provide him with the relevant documents about his case.

During the trial, most of the time was spent in reporting the progress of translation and document verification. Likewise, most debates are about the document preparation progress of the prosecution and the time they have spent, considering that the defendants have been detained for nearly one year.

After the tug-of-war between the defence and the prosecution, the magistrate asked the Chief Prosecutor #LoTinWaiAndy to set up a timeline and submit their documents accordingly.

The court proposed the next trial date, Feb 8, 2022, for some defendants tentatively. However, the timetable of tge prosecutor was yet to be confirmed.

In the next hour in court, the defence and the prosecution had disputes over the time when documents related to "summary of facts" and the "allegations" would be completed. They both had a different timeframe in mind.

While some defendants would be mentioned Feb 8, 2022, all of them will be presented in court in March 4, 2022. This means the democrats would have been detained for more than a year when the next trial takes place.

Source: You are not alone Telegram Channel #Nov29

https://t.me/youarenotalonehk_live/18823

Image: Stand News
https://thestandnews.page.link/HrCv1WBSzAsT6nw99

#Regime #FailedState #Judiciary #Arrest #47Democrats
#Save47 #Court
Attending Citizens Cheer at #47Democrats under Trial and Jeer Disorganized Prosecution

Source: You are not alone Telegram Channel #Nov29

Image: Stand News

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31548
#Save47 #Court
Attending Citizens Cheer at
#47Democrats under Trial and Jeer Disorganized Prosecution

In Hong Kong on November 29, 2021, the case of the 47 democrats, who were charged by the #NationalSecurityLaw for participating in a primary election in 2020, was trialed in court.

Although the trial was scheduled at 2 pm, the authorities did not bring the defendants currently detained to the court on time. Their families and friends, as well as the citizens attending the trial became agitated after more than an hour of waiting.

"Can the judiciary explain the cause of the one hour delay?" citizens in the court complained, "They [the authorities] do not have respect for the attendees at all!"

The court secretary claimed that there was a problem with the communication system.

In the extended court, the speaker was not turned on until 2:46 pm. After that, the court kept repeating the court regulations.

The defendants were sent to the court after the magistrate #LawTakChuenPeter arrived at the courtroom at 3:30pm.

When entering the court room, some defendants raised their hands to thank the citizens who sent a round of encouraging words.

An hour later, the trial did not have much progress. The chief prosecutor #LawTinWah suggested to split the defendants for separate trial. He proposed one of the groups to be on trial again on Feb 8, 2022. At this time, a male voice was heard saying, "get lost", followed by a round of laughter.

The magistrate did not accept the chief prosecutor's suggestion.

One of the barristers representing the defence sternly criticised the prosecution for procrastination, causing the lack of time for lawyers to give legal advice to the defendants. The comment was received with a round of applause. Nevertheless, the prosecution denied.

At around 5pm, another barrister in the defence reiterated that the legal team "eagerly" wished to receive the required documents from the prosecution in the past 8 months, but it did not happen. Another round of applause followed.

Finally, the magistrate called an end to the day's trial after 7 pm. Citizens in court encouraged the defendants and each other, "Keep it up, Hongkongers!" Some sent Birthday wishes to the detained pro-democracy figures.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31545

Source: You are not alone Telegram Channel #Nov29

Image: Stand News

#FailedState #Regime #Prosecution #Detention
#Save47 #Court
Defendants Apply to Lift Restrictions on Reporting Court Proceedings

#FailedState #Regime #Prosecution #Detention #HKPrimaries

Source: Stand News, You are not alone Telegram Channel; #Nov29

Image: Epoch Times

Read more
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31554
#Save47 #Court
Defendants Apply to Lift Restrictions on Reporting Court Proceedings

Towards the end of the court hearing for the #47Democrats on Nov 29, one defending lawyer attempted to seek clarification from Magistrate #LawTakChunPeter over three legal stand points, including asking the court to lift the reporting restrictions set out in the Magistrates Ordinance.

Section 87A of the Magistrates Ordinance prohibits reporting the majority of details of committal proceedings, but defendants have the right to request that the restrictions be removed. Accordingly, several defendants' lawyers asked the court to remove the limitations.

Magistrate Law, in fact, sought assistance from one of the defending lawyers to coordinate the matter. The courtroom broke into laughter as the judge struggled with the overwhelming workload of a case with 47 defendants.

The magistrate decided to adjourn hearing the substantive arguments on the application to January 17, 2022 at 9:30am.

He ordered some defendants to return to the court on February 8, while another court appearance is scheduled for March 4.

#FailedState #Regime #Prosecution #Detention #HKPrimaries

Source: Stand News, You are not alone Telegram Channel #Nov29

Read more:
After One Year of Detention, Prosecution Documents Are Still Not Ready
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31545

Attending Citizens Cheer at #47Democrats under Trial and Jeer Disorganized Prosecution
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31547
#Save47 #Court
Defendants and Supporters Catch a Moment to Cheer On Each Other

#FailedState #Regime #Solidarity #HKPrimaries

Source: Stand News; #Nov29

Image: Lhokvre Media
https://www.facebook.com/106560181638705/posts/202393685388687/

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
#Save47 #Court
Defendants and Supporters Catch a Moment to Cheer On Each Other

Most of the defendants of the #47Democrats case have been remanded for over 8 months. Court hearings have become the only occasion where they can see their families and friends.

When the four-hour-long hearing ended on Nov 29, defendants in the dock stood on the benches and moved close to the glass panels to bid farewell to the court attendees.

Former district councilor Sam Cheung shouted, "the toilet in room 1 has been fixed!" Owen Chow shouted back, "Work out more, Sam Cheung!"

Cheung grinned as he replied jokingly, "Prison life is hard, I got no time for work out!"

Former district councilor Tiffany Yuen told fellow defendant Owen Chow – who is on bail – to write letters back to her. Chow acknowledged her, shouting back “Bye bye Tiffany!”

#FailedState #Regime #Solidarity #HKPrimaries

Source: Stand News, #Nov29
https://thestandnews.page.link/HrCv1WBSzAsT6nw99

Read more:
After One Year of Detention, Prosecution Documents Are Still Not Ready
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31545

Attending Citizens Cheer at #47Democrats under Trial and Jeer Disorganized Prosecution
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31547

Defendants Apply to Lift Restrictions on Reporting Court Proceedings
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31553
Greta Thunberg Has a Message for Jailed Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong

The Swedish climate campaigner #GretaThunberg has written imprisoned Hong Kong activist #JoshuaWong a letter, in an effort to draw attention to the detention of the protest leader in Hong Kong.

"You are a big hero, we are with you always,” Thunberg's letter reads. “Stay strong and never give up. You are never alone. I really hope that we will be able to meet one day.”

#Save47 #PrisonerRights #PoliceState #HKProtest

Sources: Stand News, #Dec2; Vice, #Nov30 https://thestandnews.page.link/RQ6mMpQ6b1BechAz7