'Endure, everyone': final messages from Hong Kong democracy figures before detention

On Sunday (28 Feb), 47 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion over accusations of participating in or organising an unofficial primary election last year. All face terms of up to life in prison if convicted. Before they reported to police stations across the city to be detained, some sent messages to their supporters about justice, hope and endurance.

Fergus Leung Fong-wai, 23, district councillor and student, “continue to hold on. Remember the reasons why we chose to stand out.”

Owen Chow Ka-shing, 24, intended to run in the elections, “whether we are in the streets, in prison or overseas, hope will always be needed for us to keep fighting this endless battle ... Good luck to all of you out there.”

Lester Shum Ngo-fai, 27, district councillor, disqualified in July 2020, “do not feel demoralised, this road is our own. It is for Hong Kong people to choose together, it is the one we must walk together. History has no turnback points, only predecessors.”

Source: The Guardian #Mar01

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/01/endure-everyone-hong-kong-democracy-figures-messages-detention?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

#HongKong #HKNationalSecurityLaw #HKNSL #MassArrest

#FirstHand #Mar11
Former Lawmaker on Suspicion of Security Law Breach Granted Bail

The decision came as the High Court continued to deal with a challenge by the prosecutors to a lower court’s decision to grant bail to 11 of the pro-democracy activists and politicians, including Wong.

When leaving the court, Wong was welcomed by a large group of supporters.

She stopped briefly to talk to media representatives, saying that she wanted to go home and share some time with her family.

Soon afterwards, she left the scene with her husband and friends.

#HelenaWong #HighCourt #MassArrest #Subversion #NationalSecurityLaw

#47Democrats #MassArrest
International Rallies Around the Globe, Supporting the 47 Detained Pro-Democracy Activists

Source: Stand News; #Mar9

#InternationalRally #Taiwan #Tainan #US #SanFrancisco #UK #Nottingham #NationalSecurityLaw

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#47Democrats #MassArrest
International Rallies Around the Globe, Supporting the 47 Detained Pro-Democracy Activists

The 47 pro-democracy activists who participated in or organized the primary election were arrested under the national security law. Hong Kong citizens from all around the world held rallies at multiple locations to support the detained activists. These include San Francisco, USA, Melbourne, Australia, Berlin, Germany, Tainan, Taiwan, Nottingham, UK and Vancouver, Canada.

Rally Attendees waved flags with the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times”. Some played “Glory to Hong Kong“, in which the crowd sang along to the song, hoping to support those in Hong Kong not to give up.

Although the rallies were scattered around the world, all participants and organizers expressed a similar message:

“Use the light you have, to shine others along your way.” (Tainan)

“We want to make a difference and speak out against mass arrests.” (San Francisco Bay Area)

A message to Hongkongers that “Keep speaking out, continue making yourself heard and do not be censored.” (Nottingham, United Kingdom)

Source: Stand News; #Mar9

#InternationalRally #Taiwan #Tainan #US #SanFrancisco #UK #Nottingham #NationalSecurityLaw

Hong Kong: Prosecution of opposition figures an unprecedented attack on human rights

As regards a Hong Kong court’s decision to deny bail to 32 of 47 pro-democracy lawmakers and activists charged with “conspiracy to subversion” under Hong Kong’s national security and criminal laws, Amnesty International Hong Kong’s Programme Manager Lam Cho Ming said: 

“These prosecutions are an unprecedented attack on freedom of expression and association in Hong Kong.”  
“None of them have committed a recognized crime, but they have fallen victim to a national security law that deems people a ‘threat’ simply for the peaceful expression of political views and for taking part in the conduct of public affairs.”

“The targeting of these lawmakers and activists signals the government’s intention to close off any space for meaningful political participation in Hong Kong and discourage any future such activities.”

Source: Amnesty #Mar04

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/03/hk-opposition-prosecutions-an-unprecedented-attack-on-human-rights/

#HKNSL #HKNationalSecurityLaw #MassArrest #47ProDemocracyActivists

#GlobalSupport #Japan
#JPAC calls for Japanese government to enact legislation for Human Rights #sanction

An inter-parliamentary group, Japan Parliamentary Alliance on China (JPAC) issued a statement on March 18, 2021 in which it condemned the China's General Assembly of the People's Congress for forcing changes to the electoral system in Hong Kong and charging 47 democrats with National Security breaches.

The alliance urged the Japanese Government to enact Human Rights Violations Sanctions Act as soon as possible and offer protection for Hongkongers facing oppression through immigration means.

The Alliance criticized the Chinese Communist Party’s (#CCP) amendments of Hong Kong’s electoral system as an act that deprives the democrat’s right to vote, aiming to weaken the development of democracy in Hong Kong.

JPAC further denounced that the CCP has blatantly violated the principle of One Country Two Systems as promised in the Sino-British Joint Declaration .

The statement also mentioned the Hong Kong authorities' arrest of 47 democrats for charges of “conspiracy to subverting state power”. It also reiterated that almost all known democratic political figures in Hong Kong have been arrested, jailed or forced to exile.

The JPAC strongly protested the arrests and called for the early release of the arrested persons.

Source: Stand News; #Mar18

https://www.thestandnews.com/international/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%B7%A8%E9%BB%A8%E6%B4%BE%E8%AD%B0%E5%93%A1%E8%AD%B4%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%BA%E5%A4%A7%E6%9B%B4%E6%94%B9%E6%B8%AF%E9%81%B8%E8%88%89%E5%88%B6%E5%BA%A6-%E7%B1%B2%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E7%9B%A1%E6%97%A9%E5%88%B6%E5%AE%9A%E4%BA%BA%E6%AC%8A%E5%88%B6%E8%A3%81%E6%B3%95/

#Sanction #MassArrest #47Democrats

#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

#PoliticalPrisoner #MassArrest
#PolyUSiege: HK Police Arrests 21 Civilians Including Student Standing in Public Exam

The police arrested 21 civilians in Hong Kong on the morning of April 26, 2021. The arrestees have refused bail in the Hong Kpng Polytechnic University (#PolyU) clash during the 2019 Anti-ELAB protest.

The Organised Crime and Triad Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force charged them with “perverting the course of justice” as they were suspected of assisting other civilians trapped in the PolyU campus to avoid from being tracked.

Stand News found that one of the arrestees is a public exam HKDSE candidate who was absent for the subject Liberal Studies - Paper 1 exam due to police detention.

His/ her educational pathway will be obstructed as this paper accounts for 56% of the assessment, which is a core subject and required to obtain at least a level 2 in university admission.

Source: Stand News #Apr23

https://bit.ly/3aCvqb2

#PoliceState #PoliticalSuppression

What has happened since the pro-democracy LegCo primary?

#LegCo #MassArrest #PrimaryElection #GoHKgraphics

#47Democrats #PrimaryElection #MassArrest
"To Plea or Not To Plea guilty" is a queation that suffocates defendants

Source: InMedia, GordonNgConcernGroup Facebook Page #Aug18

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#47Democrats #PrimaryElection #MassArrest
"To Plea or Not To Plea guilty" is a queation that suffocates defendants

47 lawmakers, academia, and activist are being suspected of organising and participating in the primary election in 2020. They are being accused of "conspiring subversion of state".

In the 139-page of case study, it revealed that 5 of the defendants were classified as "major organisers" - #BennyTai, a legal scholar; #AuNokHin, a former legislator; #ChiuKaYin and #ChungKamLun, former district council members; and #GordonNg, an activist.

Among them, only Gordon Ng decided to plea not guilty.

Gordon Ng Concern Group wrote a post on social media after the release of the restrictions on reporting the cases, referring to Ng's perspective that he is "definitely not believing" that he had violated the law,  and therefore, "I will face it despite being afraid”.

Ng said that he spent most of his time thinking about whether or not to plead guilty since being charged one and a half years ago. This question "makes him breathless" as his answer would most likely affect the second half of his life, with too many factors to consider.

He mentioned up until now, no defendant under the #NSL case has successfully been acquitted of their charges and described the space for discusiion, as an unknown as it required a lot of human and material resources. He asked, "is there a better way to use the resources spent on me?"

Ng understands that if he pleads guilty, his one-third of his original sentence may be cut. Yet, he is still unsure whether he is classified as a "main person", "with large crime" or "proactive participant". The category can seriously affect his sentence, from under three years to life imprisonment.

In addition, Ng stated that the case caught local and international attention, and as a result, he reflects on whether he has the responsibility to consider the view of civic society. He is an #Australian citizen, and the Australian government once published a statement raising concerns on the case. Therefore, he reflects, "Will my defence statement affect their views on the case?"

Gordon Ng admitted that he had no answer for most of his questions, but a fundamental question struck him - Do you think you had violated the law? "No, I absolutely don't think so. Therefore, I decide not to plead."

There is no way for him to get rid of the unknowns. He can only face it with courage. "I have prepared to fight for myself on the court. That is the largest battle in my life."

[Editor note: Gordon Ng is not a candidate for the election nor represents any political parties or organisations but a passerby on #LIHKG (named Lee Bak Lou, indicating liberal). He was the initiator of #LegCoPetition. It is a petition aimed to quantify people's voices and to call people to vote for the winners in the primary election and not to vote for candidates who do not support, participate or comply with the primary election. This petition puts pressure on candidates to adhere to the election results.]

Source: InMedia, GordonNgConcernGroup Facebook Page #Aug18

https://bit.ly/3Ctdhek
https://bit.ly/3Rb3rSD

Read more about the case:

Jan 6, 2021:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27802

Feb 28, 2021:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28799

Mar 1-2, 2021:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28876
.