#FirstHand #Mar1 #GoHKInterview
Pro-democracy Activist #FigoChan: I Am Sure We Won't Give Up
Watch Video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28860
Figo Chan (陳皓桓), activist and convener of the organization Civil Human Rights Front (#CHRF), spoke to our reporter on March 1, 2021 outside West Kowloon magistrates court regarding the hearing of 47 pro-democracy candidates.
The group was charged with "conspiracy to commit subversion" under the #NationalSecurityLaw. The court is currently in session and Figo Chan believes that “it will take a long time since there are quite a number of accused, if each of their lawyers shall speak, it will definitely take until the afternoon.”
Chan said that “I am sure the supporters who are queueing in front of the court right now and those who are not here at the moment will not give up. I hope that we will all continue to persist and speak out."
He added, "Even though the government has restricted us from going on protests and rallies, we still found a way to queue up and vocally support those inside; the government has stopped us from voting, yet we found a way to “vote” with our presence by coming out here.”
“I believe those in court, in jail and those who might be charged and sentenced in the future will persist, so we shouldn’t give up on hope, I am sure it will be okay if we all stand strong on what we believe.”
When asked about his thoughts on whether the accused may be granted bail, Chan replied saying that “I really don’t know how to evaluate the situation right now since Hong Kong has become so absurd. Even organizing an unofficial primary poll can be considered to be a conspiracy to commit subversion, and it seems that the chances of them being granted bail are slim."
"I know that the world can get more and more absurd each day , but as long as we, the people, remain logical and stand strong on what we believe is right, I think it will be okay.”
Chan was also asked whether he has anything he would like to say to Hong Kong supporters overseas. “I know that the Hong Kong citizens who have moved abroad and the overseas supporters must be feeling very powerless and hopeless right now. They must be sad because of how their home has become."
"But I want to emphasize that there are still a lot of people in Hong Kong who are still persisting on, many of us who are still here haven't given up yet. It doesn’t matter where you are, as long as we all continue to speak out for freedom and democracy, we will be able to get the democracy we fight for."
"If we can speak out for the citizens in Myanmar, in turn, those in other countries can definitely support those in Hong Kong. So I believe we must all stand strong, persist, and never give up,” said Figo Chan.
Source: First Hand
====
More first-hand interview of the day:
"Jail First, Trial Later": Ex-Lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan in Hong Kong Blasts National Security Trial for Lack of Due Process
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28864
#Interview #Court #PoliticalPersecution #NeverGiveUp #HongkongersVoices #StandWithHongKong #StandwithMyanmar
#FightforFreedom
Pro-democracy Activist #FigoChan: I Am Sure We Won't Give Up
Watch Video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28860
Figo Chan (陳皓桓), activist and convener of the organization Civil Human Rights Front (#CHRF), spoke to our reporter on March 1, 2021 outside West Kowloon magistrates court regarding the hearing of 47 pro-democracy candidates.
The group was charged with "conspiracy to commit subversion" under the #NationalSecurityLaw. The court is currently in session and Figo Chan believes that “it will take a long time since there are quite a number of accused, if each of their lawyers shall speak, it will definitely take until the afternoon.”
Chan said that “I am sure the supporters who are queueing in front of the court right now and those who are not here at the moment will not give up. I hope that we will all continue to persist and speak out."
He added, "Even though the government has restricted us from going on protests and rallies, we still found a way to queue up and vocally support those inside; the government has stopped us from voting, yet we found a way to “vote” with our presence by coming out here.”
“I believe those in court, in jail and those who might be charged and sentenced in the future will persist, so we shouldn’t give up on hope, I am sure it will be okay if we all stand strong on what we believe.”
When asked about his thoughts on whether the accused may be granted bail, Chan replied saying that “I really don’t know how to evaluate the situation right now since Hong Kong has become so absurd. Even organizing an unofficial primary poll can be considered to be a conspiracy to commit subversion, and it seems that the chances of them being granted bail are slim."
"I know that the world can get more and more absurd each day , but as long as we, the people, remain logical and stand strong on what we believe is right, I think it will be okay.”
Chan was also asked whether he has anything he would like to say to Hong Kong supporters overseas. “I know that the Hong Kong citizens who have moved abroad and the overseas supporters must be feeling very powerless and hopeless right now. They must be sad because of how their home has become."
"But I want to emphasize that there are still a lot of people in Hong Kong who are still persisting on, many of us who are still here haven't given up yet. It doesn’t matter where you are, as long as we all continue to speak out for freedom and democracy, we will be able to get the democracy we fight for."
"If we can speak out for the citizens in Myanmar, in turn, those in other countries can definitely support those in Hong Kong. So I believe we must all stand strong, persist, and never give up,” said Figo Chan.
Source: First Hand
====
More first-hand interview of the day:
"Jail First, Trial Later": Ex-Lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan in Hong Kong Blasts National Security Trial for Lack of Due Process
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28864
#Interview #Court #PoliticalPersecution #NeverGiveUp #HongkongersVoices #StandWithHongKong #StandwithMyanmar
#FightforFreedom
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#FirstHand #Mar1 #GoHKInterview
Pro-democracy Activist #FigoChan: I Am Sure We Won't Give Up
Read our English Transcript here:
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28861
Pro-democracy Activist #FigoChan: I Am Sure We Won't Give Up
Read our English Transcript here:
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28861
#FirstHand #GoHKInterview #Mar1
"Jail First, Trial Later": Ex-Lawmaker in Hong Kong Blasts National Security Trial for Lack of Due Process
1800 | West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts
Watch video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28863
On the early evening of March 1, 2021, former lawmaker #LeeCheukYan talked to reporters outside the court, as he was waiting for the updates on the court hearing of the 47 pro-democracy activists on trial under the #NationalSecurityLaw, along with many supporters at the scene.
It was revealed in the day's court proceedings that the prosecution had not yet finished their investigations, even though the case is already being brought to court.
Lee criticized the lack of due process under the draconian law, and called the government's tactics "dirty and self-contradicting".
"The authorities clumsily arrest all these people before they got their evidence together. Now that they're not ready for the trial, they wouldn't grant them bail. But this is how Hong Kong's law is like now," Lee said.
"The government is even wasting the judge's time," Lee added sympathetically, in reference to the prosecution asking to delay the case for another two months until May 2021.
"Worse yet, after all this charade, they might still not grant us bail. Then our defendants would end up jailed without trial for months," Lee pointed out.
When asked about the eight activists who were arrested together with the 47 but were not charged today, Lee says that the government's choice not to prosecute them seems intended to instigate divisions within the pro-democracy camp.
However, it only made their arrest even more ridiculous: "They don't even have evidence for the 47 they charged today, let alone the eight." Even so, Lee said, the government showed its intent to first keep the 47 pro-democracy activists and politicians behind bars for some time. "You simply don't know when they'll be free. The whole thing is ridiculous."
=====
More first-hand interviews from the same day:
Pro-democracy Activist #FigoChan: I Am Sure We Won't Give Up
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28861
#Court #PoliticalPrisoners #PoliceState #47Democrats #PoliticalPersecution #Injustice #HumanitarianCrisis #RuleByLaw
"Jail First, Trial Later": Ex-Lawmaker in Hong Kong Blasts National Security Trial for Lack of Due Process
1800 | West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts
Watch video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28863
On the early evening of March 1, 2021, former lawmaker #LeeCheukYan talked to reporters outside the court, as he was waiting for the updates on the court hearing of the 47 pro-democracy activists on trial under the #NationalSecurityLaw, along with many supporters at the scene.
It was revealed in the day's court proceedings that the prosecution had not yet finished their investigations, even though the case is already being brought to court.
Lee criticized the lack of due process under the draconian law, and called the government's tactics "dirty and self-contradicting".
"The authorities clumsily arrest all these people before they got their evidence together. Now that they're not ready for the trial, they wouldn't grant them bail. But this is how Hong Kong's law is like now," Lee said.
"The government is even wasting the judge's time," Lee added sympathetically, in reference to the prosecution asking to delay the case for another two months until May 2021.
"Worse yet, after all this charade, they might still not grant us bail. Then our defendants would end up jailed without trial for months," Lee pointed out.
When asked about the eight activists who were arrested together with the 47 but were not charged today, Lee says that the government's choice not to prosecute them seems intended to instigate divisions within the pro-democracy camp.
However, it only made their arrest even more ridiculous: "They don't even have evidence for the 47 they charged today, let alone the eight." Even so, Lee said, the government showed its intent to first keep the 47 pro-democracy activists and politicians behind bars for some time. "You simply don't know when they'll be free. The whole thing is ridiculous."
=====
More first-hand interviews from the same day:
Pro-democracy Activist #FigoChan: I Am Sure We Won't Give Up
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28861
#Court #PoliticalPrisoners #PoliceState #47Democrats #PoliticalPersecution #Injustice #HumanitarianCrisis #RuleByLaw
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#FirstHand #Mar1
#FirstHand #GoHKInterview #Mar1
"Jail First, Trial Later": Ex-Lawmaker in Hong Kong Blasts National Security Trial for Lack of Due Process
Read our English Transcript here:
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28864
#FirstHand #GoHKInterview #Mar1
"Jail First, Trial Later": Ex-Lawmaker in Hong Kong Blasts National Security Trial for Lack of Due Process
Read our English Transcript here:
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28864
#MassArrest #PoliticalPersecution
UK Foreign Minister Condemns Hong Kong Governments fot Persecuting Pro-democracy Activists
Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom #DominicRaab condemned the Hong Kong government for using the #NationalSecurityLaw to "eliminate political dissent".
Source: Dominic Raab's Twitter #Feb28
https://twitter.com/DominicRaab/status/1366047986191659011
UK Foreign Minister Condemns Hong Kong Governments fot Persecuting Pro-democracy Activists
Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom #DominicRaab condemned the Hong Kong government for using the #NationalSecurityLaw to "eliminate political dissent".
Source: Dominic Raab's Twitter #Feb28
https://twitter.com/DominicRaab/status/1366047986191659011
#Court #PoliticalPersecution
Hong Kong Police Reportedly Arrest Lawyer Defending Pro-democracy Activists
2306 | West Kowloon Magistrates' Court
On March 1, 2021, 47 pro-democracy activists, who were charged with "conspiracy to state subversion", were mentioned in court in Hong Kong.
The trial continued after midnight, and at least 4 defendants collapsed and were sent to the hospital.
At 23:06 on Mar 1, lawyer Yau Lui-pong representing 9 pro-democracy defendents was taken away and reportedly arrested by the police for reason unknown.
Source: Stand News #Mar1
https://www.facebook.com/standnewshk/posts/3944689292283328
Hong Kong Police Reportedly Arrest Lawyer Defending Pro-democracy Activists
2306 | West Kowloon Magistrates' Court
On March 1, 2021, 47 pro-democracy activists, who were charged with "conspiracy to state subversion", were mentioned in court in Hong Kong.
The trial continued after midnight, and at least 4 defendants collapsed and were sent to the hospital.
At 23:06 on Mar 1, lawyer Yau Lui-pong representing 9 pro-democracy defendents was taken away and reportedly arrested by the police for reason unknown.
Source: Stand News #Mar1
https://www.facebook.com/standnewshk/posts/3944689292283328
#Court #PoliceState
Hong Kong #ESports player acquitted from "conspiring to riot" worries the Authorities might lodge an appeal
Six Hongkongers were charged with "conspiring to riot" regarding a clash on Oct 1, 2019, which was the PRC's National Day.
On Feb 19, 2021, after more than one year since the accusation was made, all six accused were acquitted in court.
Outside the court, e-sports player Cheung Ho Fai, as one of the six accused, said he felt stressed and negative as the verdict was not announced until the lunar new year, and he only anticipated a fifty-fifty chance of winning.
Even though they were now acquitted, Cheung was still worried that the Department of Justice (#DoJ) might file an appeal.
He also wished that he could suffer the stress for his girlfriend, who was also one of the accused, and believed every boyfriend would have thought the same.
As Cheung stepped out of the court, friends congratulated him and some said “Way to go!” “Now go back to E sports and win a champion!”
Before answering the reporters’ questions, Cheung wiped away the sweat on his face and forehead and said “I’m exhausted! It was so stressful!”.
Cheung initially expected to hear the verdict in about a week or a month since the trial was concluded back in December 2020. It turned out that the verdict was not announced until after the lunar new year. He said he wished the case could have ended earlier “It was such a long wait, it wore me down”.
One of the accused in this case was his girlfriend, So Mei Lei. Cheung said, the Anti-ELAB movement began soon after they met. “We got arrested about two, three months after we started dating”, therefore they did not have any future plans, “the only plan was to get ready for the trials”.
Source: Apple News #Feb19
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210219/WYCOLN4KSZHIVHKRFBHUPH3VFA/
#Acquitted #HongKongProtests #AntiElab #RiottingCharges #PoliticalPersecution
Hong Kong #ESports player acquitted from "conspiring to riot" worries the Authorities might lodge an appeal
Six Hongkongers were charged with "conspiring to riot" regarding a clash on Oct 1, 2019, which was the PRC's National Day.
On Feb 19, 2021, after more than one year since the accusation was made, all six accused were acquitted in court.
Outside the court, e-sports player Cheung Ho Fai, as one of the six accused, said he felt stressed and negative as the verdict was not announced until the lunar new year, and he only anticipated a fifty-fifty chance of winning.
Even though they were now acquitted, Cheung was still worried that the Department of Justice (#DoJ) might file an appeal.
He also wished that he could suffer the stress for his girlfriend, who was also one of the accused, and believed every boyfriend would have thought the same.
As Cheung stepped out of the court, friends congratulated him and some said “Way to go!” “Now go back to E sports and win a champion!”
Before answering the reporters’ questions, Cheung wiped away the sweat on his face and forehead and said “I’m exhausted! It was so stressful!”.
Cheung initially expected to hear the verdict in about a week or a month since the trial was concluded back in December 2020. It turned out that the verdict was not announced until after the lunar new year. He said he wished the case could have ended earlier “It was such a long wait, it wore me down”.
One of the accused in this case was his girlfriend, So Mei Lei. Cheung said, the Anti-ELAB movement began soon after they met. “We got arrested about two, three months after we started dating”, therefore they did not have any future plans, “the only plan was to get ready for the trials”.
Source: Apple News #Feb19
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210219/WYCOLN4KSZHIVHKRFBHUPH3VFA/
#Acquitted #HongKongProtests #AntiElab #RiottingCharges #PoliticalPersecution
#FirstCourt #Mar6 #Court
Pro-democracy Politician Manages to See An Ultrasound Picture of his Baby Between Court Sessions
14:19 | High Court
The pregnant wife of district councillor Cheung Hoi-sum showed up in court to show support on Saturday, March 6, 2021.
Cheung is one of the 47 pro-democracy activists and politicians who were arrested and charged by the Hong Kong authorities with "conspiracy to state subversion" under the #NationalSecurityLaw.
Cheung was among the 11 whose bail were granted by the court but was immediately rejected by the Department of Justice on March 5.
On March 6, the bail application and the appeal are reviewed by the High Court.
As the court was adjouned, Cheung's wife managed to show him an ultrasound picture of their baby. The couple exchanged a smile even it was only for a few seconds.
#Baby #Pregnancy #47Democrats #PoliticalPersecution
====
Hongkongers Chant Outside Court: There's no rioters, Only tyrannical regime
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28941
Pro-democracy Politician Manages to See An Ultrasound Picture of his Baby Between Court Sessions
14:19 | High Court
The pregnant wife of district councillor Cheung Hoi-sum showed up in court to show support on Saturday, March 6, 2021.
Cheung is one of the 47 pro-democracy activists and politicians who were arrested and charged by the Hong Kong authorities with "conspiracy to state subversion" under the #NationalSecurityLaw.
Cheung was among the 11 whose bail were granted by the court but was immediately rejected by the Department of Justice on March 5.
On March 6, the bail application and the appeal are reviewed by the High Court.
As the court was adjouned, Cheung's wife managed to show him an ultrasound picture of their baby. The couple exchanged a smile even it was only for a few seconds.
#Baby #Pregnancy #47Democrats #PoliticalPersecution
====
Hongkongers Chant Outside Court: There's no rioters, Only tyrannical regime
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28941
#PoliceState #PoliticalPersecution
HK Police Accuses Pro-Democracy Group of Breaching Societies Ordinance
The Hong Kong police have accused the Civil Human Rights Front (#CHRF), a pro-democracy group which organizes protests including the annual July 1 rally and many large-scale protests duting the 2019 Anti-ELAB movement, of breaching the Societies Ordinance.
In a Facebook post on April 26, 2021, CHRF convenor Figo Chan said they received aletter sent from the police. The police claimed that the group had been "de-registered" under the Societies Ordinance in 2006, two months after its application was approved. The police thereby accused the group of violating the Societies Ordinance.
The police demanded information including financial records and activity details since the group's establishment in 2006.
Source: InMedia #Apr26
https://bit.ly/3sMAjEw
HK Police Accuses Pro-Democracy Group of Breaching Societies Ordinance
The Hong Kong police have accused the Civil Human Rights Front (#CHRF), a pro-democracy group which organizes protests including the annual July 1 rally and many large-scale protests duting the 2019 Anti-ELAB movement, of breaching the Societies Ordinance.
In a Facebook post on April 26, 2021, CHRF convenor Figo Chan said they received aletter sent from the police. The police claimed that the group had been "de-registered" under the Societies Ordinance in 2006, two months after its application was approved. The police thereby accused the group of violating the Societies Ordinance.
The police demanded information including financial records and activity details since the group's establishment in 2006.
Source: InMedia #Apr26
https://bit.ly/3sMAjEw
#PoliticalPersecution #PoliceState
HK Pro-democracy Activist punished in solitary confinement for arbitrary offences
Source: InMedia #Jul24
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
HK Pro-democracy Activist punished in solitary confinement for arbitrary offences
Source: InMedia #Jul24
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
#PoliticalPersecution #PoliceState
HK Pro-democracy Activist punished in solitary confinement for arbitrary offences
On July 20, 2021, Former Councilor of Southern District, #TiffanyYuen Ka-wai, had finished serving her 4-month jail term after taking part in the June 4 vigil at Victoria Park in 2020, which was banned by the police for the first time in 30 years.
At the end of her prison term, she was sent to the Lo Wu Correctional Facility to continue to be detained for charges linked to the pro-democracy camp primaries of Legislative Council election in 2020.
At the detention cell, she hugged several other pro-democracy activists also being detained.
Soon afterwards, Yuen was penalized by the authorities for “making physical contact with other prisoners” and placed in solitary confinement for 10 days.
Yuen’s friend Wong Li-li told reporters that there was no enforcement guidelines in the Correctional Services Department decision. Wong explained that “physical contacts” occur naturally in prison routines, condemning that the Department’s decision is arbitrary and targeting unfairly at Yuen.
Look into the Prison Rules in Hong Kong for offences against prison discipline, it certainly didn’t consist of making “physical contact with other prisoners," Wong said.
#HKProtest #NationalSecurityLaw #WhiteTerror #FailedState
Source: InMedia; #Jul24
https://bit.ly/3kSnwA6
#PoliticalSuppression #PoliticalActivists #Prison
HK Pro-democracy Activist punished in solitary confinement for arbitrary offences
On July 20, 2021, Former Councilor of Southern District, #TiffanyYuen Ka-wai, had finished serving her 4-month jail term after taking part in the June 4 vigil at Victoria Park in 2020, which was banned by the police for the first time in 30 years.
At the end of her prison term, she was sent to the Lo Wu Correctional Facility to continue to be detained for charges linked to the pro-democracy camp primaries of Legislative Council election in 2020.
At the detention cell, she hugged several other pro-democracy activists also being detained.
Soon afterwards, Yuen was penalized by the authorities for “making physical contact with other prisoners” and placed in solitary confinement for 10 days.
Yuen’s friend Wong Li-li told reporters that there was no enforcement guidelines in the Correctional Services Department decision. Wong explained that “physical contacts” occur naturally in prison routines, condemning that the Department’s decision is arbitrary and targeting unfairly at Yuen.
Look into the Prison Rules in Hong Kong for offences against prison discipline, it certainly didn’t consist of making “physical contact with other prisoners," Wong said.
#HKProtest #NationalSecurityLaw #WhiteTerror #FailedState
Source: InMedia; #Jul24
https://bit.ly/3kSnwA6
#PoliticalSuppression #PoliticalActivists #Prison
獨立媒體
袁嘉蔚與囚友擁抱遭罰水飯房10日 友人黃莉莉斥針對 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
（獨媒報導）前南區區議員袁嘉蔚於本月20日完成6.4案刑期，返回羅湖懲教所，續就民主派初選案還柙。袁嘉蔚在返回還押囚室時與其他囚友擁抱，被懲教以「與其他囚犯有身體接觸」為由，處罰單獨隔離囚禁10天（即俗稱的水飯房）。袁的友人黃莉莉接受《獨媒》訪問，批評懲教署執法準則模糊，指在囚人士於日常工作中亦會與其他人有肢體接觸，質疑處罰是針對袁嘉蔚。翻查《監獄規則
June 4th Vigil Organizer Disbanded after 32 Years
After a special meeting on September 25, 2021, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China passed a motion to dissolve. The voting took place at the now-shut-down June 4th Museum. 41 votes agreed to its disbandment while 4 votes said no.
The 32-year-old pro-democracy organization is known for holding the annual June 4th Tiananmen Massacre candlelight vigil in Hong Kong's Victoria Park. Its co-directors and core members have been arrested and detained by the police on charges of "state subversion".
When in custody, Barrister #ChowHangTung, the vice-president of the group, had urged the members of the Alliance to not disband the group, in order to stand up against the terror disseminated by the regime.
Since the forced enactment of the National Security Law in Hong Kong in 2020, at least 49 civic organizations in Hong Kong has disbanded.
Source: Stand News #Sept25
https://fb.watch/8ez2f4L73b
https://thestandnews.page.link/sTg5u3q6R8Df2Mt5A
#PoliticalPersecution #Disband #June4 #Vigil #Regime
===
Final posts by Hong Kong Pro-democracy Barrister #ChowHangTung Before Being Arrested by National Security Police
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31042
HK National Security Police Accuses Veteran Pro-democracy NGO as "Agent of Foreign Power"
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30884
After a special meeting on September 25, 2021, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China passed a motion to dissolve. The voting took place at the now-shut-down June 4th Museum. 41 votes agreed to its disbandment while 4 votes said no.
The 32-year-old pro-democracy organization is known for holding the annual June 4th Tiananmen Massacre candlelight vigil in Hong Kong's Victoria Park. Its co-directors and core members have been arrested and detained by the police on charges of "state subversion".
When in custody, Barrister #ChowHangTung, the vice-president of the group, had urged the members of the Alliance to not disband the group, in order to stand up against the terror disseminated by the regime.
Since the forced enactment of the National Security Law in Hong Kong in 2020, at least 49 civic organizations in Hong Kong has disbanded.
Source: Stand News #Sept25
https://fb.watch/8ez2f4L73b
https://thestandnews.page.link/sTg5u3q6R8Df2Mt5A
#PoliticalPersecution #Disband #June4 #Vigil #Regime
===
Final posts by Hong Kong Pro-democracy Barrister #ChowHangTung Before Being Arrested by National Security Police
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31042
HK National Security Police Accuses Veteran Pro-democracy NGO as "Agent of Foreign Power"
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30884
#Court
High Court Judge Claims First Aiders "Encourage" Fighting, as First Aider Appeals 4-Year Rioting Sentence
In Hong Kong, the High Court has heard an appeal against the conviction of a 26-year-old man sentenced to four years for rioting in a 2019 #AntiELAB protest.
The man is one of 16 charged with rioting in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai on 31 August 2019, the fifth anniversary of the Chinese congress’ ’31 August decision’ to limit candidacy and representation in Hong Kong’s elections.
While six of the accused were acquitted, the man, who maintained that he was volunteering as a #FirstAider on the scene, was found guilty and handed a four-year sentence in 2021. He has now been incarcerated for over two years.
Citing the Lo Kin-man case, the appellate judge Derek Pang said on 28 July that a first aider can still be considered to have had a part in the riot.
“[Let’s say] you show up in a battle in a certain country’s military uniform. You have a red cross on your arm, and you’re a medic. Does that mean you’re not part of the frontline fighting? Isn’t that still a kind of support or encouragement?” Mr Pang said.
He added that helping someone of the same side in a riot to wash tear gas out their eyes is also a form of support. The appellant, he said, must have acted with the same purpose in mind as the rest of his camp.
“Why is it that you can’t possibly be one of the rioters if you’re a first aider? It’s not like you were with St John [Ambulance], is it?” Mr Pang said.
The prosecutor said it is for the court to decide if the appellant was a genuine first aider.
“A mere claim of having been a first aider [on the scene] doesn’t give one immunity,” she said.
Source: InMedia #Jul28
https://bit.ly/3S4TFTh
#HongKongProtests #PoliceState #FirstAider #PoliticalPersecution #Crackdown
High Court Judge Claims First Aiders "Encourage" Fighting, as First Aider Appeals 4-Year Rioting Sentence
In Hong Kong, the High Court has heard an appeal against the conviction of a 26-year-old man sentenced to four years for rioting in a 2019 #AntiELAB protest.
The man is one of 16 charged with rioting in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai on 31 August 2019, the fifth anniversary of the Chinese congress’ ’31 August decision’ to limit candidacy and representation in Hong Kong’s elections.
While six of the accused were acquitted, the man, who maintained that he was volunteering as a #FirstAider on the scene, was found guilty and handed a four-year sentence in 2021. He has now been incarcerated for over two years.
Citing the Lo Kin-man case, the appellate judge Derek Pang said on 28 July that a first aider can still be considered to have had a part in the riot.
“[Let’s say] you show up in a battle in a certain country’s military uniform. You have a red cross on your arm, and you’re a medic. Does that mean you’re not part of the frontline fighting? Isn’t that still a kind of support or encouragement?” Mr Pang said.
He added that helping someone of the same side in a riot to wash tear gas out their eyes is also a form of support. The appellant, he said, must have acted with the same purpose in mind as the rest of his camp.
“Why is it that you can’t possibly be one of the rioters if you’re a first aider? It’s not like you were with St John [Ambulance], is it?” Mr Pang said.
The prosecutor said it is for the court to decide if the appellant was a genuine first aider.
“A mere claim of having been a first aider [on the scene] doesn’t give one immunity,” she said.
Source: InMedia #Jul28
https://bit.ly/3S4TFTh
#HongKongProtests #PoliceState #FirstAider #PoliticalPersecution #Crackdown