📡Guardians of Hong Kong
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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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#Court #PoliticalOppression
3-Year #Backlog of Court Cases Mean Hong Kong Protesters may be "Jailed for Nothing", Says Concerned Barrister

Hong Kong's courts are experiencing a large backlog of protest-related cases, with some trials scheduled as late as 2024.

The riot case against pro-democracy protesters entering into the Legislative Council (#LegCo) chambers on July 1, 2019, which had its first hearing last week, is scheduled for trial in May 2023, more than 2 years later.

An anonymous barrister pointed out that the jail terms handed out for recent riot cases are 4 to 5 years, though the sentences are often reduced to around 3 years for good behavior in prison.

Time spent in custody while awaiting trial also counts toward time served, therefore some of the accused may have already served their sentences by the time the court has found them guilty. If they are found innocent, however, then "they would have been jailed for nothing these three years. We're talking three years, not a couple of months."

The situation is effectively handing down a punishment before the trial, the barrister said, and is unfair to the accused.

Though some arrestees in riot cases are released on bail, the terms include night-time curfews and prohibitions from being in certain locations, or from leaving the city.

The barrister calls the bail conditions harsh and disruptive to the lives of the accused, "as if it's meant for punishing them first." Bail conditions in other criminal cases are not nearly as numerous or complicated, he says, "I don't quite understand why riot cases nowadays need so many bail conditions."

Source: Apple Daily #Mar26

https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210326/WWXAESVWLBCGXDRMFJYGDOCDRE/

#PoliceState #Bail #Injustice #Detention #RightToSpeedyTrial
#Court #PoliticalPrisoners
HK Court Sentences Pro-democracy Activists
#JoshuaWong and KooSzeYiu to Longer Jail Time for Protesting Against #AntiMaskLaw

On April 13, 2021, the Eastern Court in Hong Kong gave longer jail terms to pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong and Koo Sze-yiu, for violating the anti-mask law and joining unauthorised assembly on October 5, 2019, the day when the anti-mask law was enacted after bypassing the city's legislature.

24-year-old Wong, who is now in jail for his involvement in the 2019 anti-ELAB movement, is given another four months in prison. The magistrate Daniel Tang insisted that Wong has to serve the four-month prison sentence separately, in addition to his current 13.5 month term.

Wong is also one of the 47 pro-democracy figures charged with #NationalSecurityLaw violations for joining the primary election of the pro-democracy camp in 2020.

75-year-old veteran activist Koo Sze-yiu, who is diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, is sentenced to another five months in jail. He only left the prison last week for desecrating the Chinese emblem during a protest in July 2020.

After their sentences were announced, Koo said to the magistrate, "Being jailed has become part of my life. I won't give up and I will keep fighting." He also shout, "All hail democracy! All hail human rights!". Koo thanked fellow Hongkongers for their support.

When Wong was escorted away, he made a heart shape with his fingers and expressed his appreciation to the supporting public.

Source: InMedia; Stand News #Apr13
https://bit.ly/3wOys5j
https://bit.ly/3g9VTjA

#PoliceState #PoliticalSuppression #Injustice #Cancer
#NeverGiveUp #Court
HK Journalist #BaoChoy to #Appeal: "I will regret for a lifetime if I give up pursuing justice"

On May 5, 2021, former #RTHK producer and award-winning journalist Bao Choy announced that she would appeal against her conviction. The Hong Kong court has previously ruled her guilty of giving "false declarations" in connection with a car plate license search she made for a news documentary on the 2019 Yuen Long gang attack.

"I will regret for a lifetime if I give up pursuing justice. I won't be able to sleep at night," Choy wrote. "As a media worker, reporting facts and speaking the truth have always been my mission. As my city is falling apart, I expect myself to live in reality, with sincerity, honesty and integrity."

Source: RTHK; Stand News #May05
https://bit.ly/3eT1NUb

#Journalism #Injustice #PoliticalProsecution #Censorship #WhiteTerror
#YuenLong721
#NeverGiveUp #YellowEconomy
“Always act with conscience and stay healthy”: Staff at pro-democracy restaurant in Hong Kong arrested by the police

On May 17, 2021 in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Police told two managers working at the pro-democracy restaurant #JieGenge that they were to be arrested by appointment and charged with possession of offensive and illegal weapons in the restaurant in December 2020.

After reporting at the Mongkok Police Station on May 20, 2021, the two managers were granted HK$3,000 bail while waiting for their trial on May 28, 2021.

One of the two managers, Ivan, said he will face the trial with a calm heart, and that his conscience is clear. He also hopes Hongkongers can “act with their #conscience and stay healthy”.

Source: In Media HK #May20
https://bit.ly/2S8SAzo

#PoliticalSuppression #Arrest #PoliticalProsecution #PoliceState #Injustice
#PoliticalProsecution #Injustice
Hong Kong #Court Sends More Pro-demoracy Activists to Jail: At Least 20 Months for Jimmy Lai and 22 Months for '#LongHair'


Source: Stand News #May26

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#PoliticalProsecution #Injustice
Hong Kong #Court Sends More Pro-demoracy Activists to Jail: At Least 20 Months for Jimmy Lai and 22 Months for '#LongHair'

Ten Hong Kong pro-democracy politicians and activists were sentenced to jail for 14 to 18 months on May 28, 2021, after the court convicted them of organizing and joining an "unauthorised protest" on October 1, 2019, which was the national day of the People's Republic of China. Back then, the participating pro-democracy ptotesters described the day as the "#NationalMourningDay".

District Court judge Amanda Woodcock claimed that the defendants' wish for a peaceful protest is "naive" and "unrealistic".

Former legislators #AlbertHo, #LeeCheukYan and 'Long Hair' #LeungKwokHung and Civil Human Rights Front (#CHRF) convenor #FigoChan received a 18-month jail term.

AppleDaily founder #JimmyLai, former legislators #CydHo and #YeungSum, and former League of Social Democrats (#LSD) chairman #AveryNg were sentenced to 14 months in jail.

Only former legislator #SinChungKai and activist #RichardTsoi received suspended jail terms.

With their existing prison terms from other cases, Jimmy Lai and Lee Cheuk-yan are currently serving 20 months in prison in total while that of Leung Kwok-hung has accumulated to 22 months at the moment.

In the courtroom, some pro-democracy supporters chanted "fight on". From the defendants' seats, Leung Kwok-hung called out "Remember June 4th [Tiananmen Massacre]", while Figo Chan shout "mourn on June 4, speak out on July 1".

Source: Stand News #May26
https://bit.ly/3yL3FqT

#PoliticalPrisoner #Sentence #PoliceState #June4 #TiananmenMassacre #NationalDay
#FailedState #Injustice
#JudicialReview Denied After HK's Secretary of Justice Decides to Not Prosecute Arrestees in #AnimalAbuse Case

Source: Stand News #June30

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#FailedState #Injustice
#JudicialReview Denied After HK's Secretary of Justice Decides to Not Prosecute Arrestees in #AnimalAbuse Case

In Hong Kong in February 2020, two people were arrested in an alleged animal abuse case in Sum Tseng HongKong Garden, after 30 injured and dead animals were found in a nearby hillside of the housing estate.

However, the Secretary of Justice in Hong Kong has decided that nobody is to be prosecuted in this case.

A citizen who adopted an injured cat in the case applied for a judicial review at the High Court.

On June 30, 2021, Judge Lee Won-tung announced that the judicial review was denied. Lee emphasized that the Secretary of Justice is "not obligated" to explain her decision within a certain amount of time. Even if the applicant wins the judicial review, the court claimed that nobody can be prosecuted due to the "statute of limitations".

Source: Stand News #Jun30

https://www.thestandnews.com/court/%E5%BE%8B%E6%94%BF%E5%8F%B8%E4%B8%8D%E8%B5%B7%E8%A8%B4%E6%B7%B1%E4%BA%95%E8%99%90%E5%BE%85%E5%8B%95%E7%89%A9%E6%A1%88-%E8%B2%93%E4%B8%BB%E6%8F%90%E5%8F%B8%E6%B3%95%E8%A6%86%E6%A0%B8%E8%A2%AB%E6%8B%92-%E5%AE%98%E5%BE%8B%E6%94%BF%E5%8F%B8%E6%B2%92%E7%BE%A9%E5%8B%99%E5%9C%A8%E5%90%88%E7%90%86%E6%99%82%E9%96%93%E4%BA%A4%E4%BB%A3

#AnimalRights #AnimalCruelty
#Court #PoliceState
HK Police Forbids Civilians from Seeing Sentenced Pro-democracy Protester Off

Hong Kong's first trial under #NationalSecurityLaw was concluded on July 30, 2021 without jury.

The Court found pro-democracy protester #TongYingKit guilty for “inciting secession” and “terrorism”.

Tong was arrested on July 1, 2020, after he drove his motorcycle around a Hong Kong neighborhood with a banner that bore the prominent protest slogan, “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times”. The motorcycle later collided with police officers who tried to stop him, injuring three.

Tong was the first person charged under the national security law and he was sentenced for 9-year imprisonment.

Around 50 of Tong’s supporters waited outside the High Court where Tong was being trialed and nearby shopping mall in a bid to show appreciation to Tong and see him off.

Without compassion, the police, dispersed citizens at the scene, saying “we won’t let you see him off. Piss off.” Pushing citizens to leave the scene, some shouted, “move forward and leave.”

Soon afterwards, the police cordon was set up forbidding citizens to gather and take photograph. In the end, around six pieces of handbills were left on the ground that wrote, “24-year-old Tong Yin-kit. God bless good man. Wish you peace and be safe.”

In a nearby tram station, police were seen intercepting tens of citizens, who were searched without apparent reasons and their ID being recorded.

#PoliticalSuppression #Injustice

Source: InMedia; #Jul30
https://bit.ly/3j7OdOV
September 11, 2021: Blatant Crackdown on Civil Society Continues in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, the organizer of the annual candlelight virgil commemorating the 1989 June 4 Tiananmen Square Massacre, has been the target of the Hong Kong authorities.

On September 9, 2021, the #NationalSecurityPolice raided the June 4 Museum, formerly operated by the group.

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31004

One day later, the Department of Justice (#DoJ) charged the chairpersons of the group, including #LeeCheukYan, #AlbertHo and #ChowHangTung, of "state subversion" under the #NationalSecurityLaw.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31008

On the same day, the Hong Kong government tried to remove the group from the register.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31012

Image: vawongsir #Sept11

#StateTerrorism #911 #NationalSecurityLaw #Injustice
#Court #Censorship
Hong Kong Court Asks Man to Change Mask With Suspected Protest Iconography


#CarolNg, former chairperson of Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (#HKCTU) and one of the “#NSL47”, has been remained under custody. She has requested bail on #Dec20, 2021 to the High Court, and the application was processed by Esther Toh Lye Ping, one of the designated judges for any #NationalSecurityLaw-related cases.

A court observer have worn a yellow and black mask with the #Bible verse (Amos 5:24), “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream,” embroidered on it.

He was denied entry by security and court personnel under orders of the judge, and demanded that he change his mask before he would be allowed entry. They have not explained their reasons behind this act.

The observer was disgruntled by the request, and questioned, “If my clothes were not allowed in court, do I have to take them off them too?”

A similar incident also happened on #Dec17, 2021, when former head of the English edition of Apple Daily #LoFung (Fung Wai-kwong) requested bail.

Before the hearing began, Toh, through her secretary and Bailiffs, required observers wearing yellow masks or wearing hoodies with yellow umbrella insignias to change into “more appropriate” clothing, or be led away from the courtroom.

Some observers have questioned the requirement, questioning that those were “unsuitable” clothing, to which the Chief Bailiff stated, “it is inappropriate,” without further explaination.

Source: InMedia #Dec20

https://bit.ly/3slkoAG

#Mask #Injustice #Save47
#AntiELAB #HKJudicature #Injustice
Being re-arrested after 3 years, Mr. Yeung laments living in shadows, and hopes the legal expenses can be covered by book selling

Source: Inmedia #Apr15

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#AntiELAB #HKJudicature #Injustice
Being re-arrested after 3 years, Mr. Yeung laments living in shadows, and hopes the legal expenses can be covered by book selling

Mr Yeung Chi-Chun, the former teacher of Liberal Studies at a secondary school, whose eyesight was damaged by a bullet from the police on #Jun122019 at #Admiralty, was arrested yesterday (#Apr14) and charged with two crimes of unauthorised assembly.

After releasing from the bail, Yeung indicates on a Facebook post that he has prepared to be re-arrested due to the judicial review application on police identification number, showing his presence at Admiralty on June 12, 2019, but he will remain in Hong Kong despites living in the shadows. And that judicial review case has indeed become part of the evidence supplied by the prosecutors.

He is operating a publishing company, #HillwayCulture, and invites people to support his legal expenses by purchasing his book. The special edition of his book is expected to be published before July 21, the day before his trial. He said, "road is obstructed and long, but will eventually come to an end by perseverance".

Yeung describes the arrest process that he was informed about the charge against him and was asked to do a home search. He did not make a recorded statement but be on court on the same day with conditioned bail – 100,000 HK dollars, travel documents and reporting to the police three times a week.

Source: Inmedia #Apr15
https://bit.ly/37P5EBE