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#FirstHand #Mar4 #Court
Snapshots outside West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts as 47 pro-democrats faced 4-day-long bail hearing

The 47 activists, who had been arrested on National Security charges for participating in a primary election, had been enduring the absurdly long bail hearing for four days in a row. Despite the cold and the rain, dozens of supporters continued to show concern and their hearty regards in their own ways, eager to let those standing in the dock know that they are not alone.

Granny Wong, who wrapped herself around with a British flag against the rain, was on the scene for four days straight.

In addition, Cantopop singer Tommy Yuen also came to show support in the evening with a district councilor, Jocelyn Chau Hui Yan.

#PoliticalPrisoners #YNWA

===Related articles
Friends and family of 47 Activists Express Disappointment at Bail Refusal
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28921

Arrestee's foster mother: "You'll burn in hell, CCP"
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28923
#47Democrats #PoliticalPrisoners
Frankie Fung, Privileged Youth Turned Activist: "It will be okay even if I don’t get to see the liberation of Hong Kong”

Source: In-Media HK #Mar2

#PrimaryElections #PoliticalPrisoners

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#FirstHand #Mar12
21 of 47 democrats denied bail; Supporters chant "Victory to Democracy" outside the Court

21 of #47Democrats detained on charges of subversion under the National Security Law appeared in the Western Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on March 12 for bail hearing.

The Court upheld its decision to refuse bail to 11 of them, while 10 others withdrew their appeals.

A large group of supporters gathered outside the court to show support. Among them was Granny Wong who showed up with a British flag and a small umbrella, a symbol of the pro-democracy movement which also signifies “support and solidarity” to each fellow protester.

At the end of the hearing and when police vehicle was seen leaving the Court, Granny Wong ran into the cordoned area by Police and shouted, “Hang in there, fellow protesters. Victory to democracy.”

The 47 defendants were accused of conspiring to commit subversion by taking part in LegCo primary elections last year. Only five have been released on bail so far, pending their next hearing in late May.

#Court #PoliticalPrisoners #YNWA
#Court #PoliticalPrisoners
HK Court Sentences Pro-democracy Activists #JoshuaWong and KooSzeYiu to Longer Jail Time for Protesting Against #AntiMaskLaw

Source: InMedia; Stand News #Apr13

Read more
⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29386
#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
#Court #47Democrats #PoliticalSuppression
A Journalist's Account of Witnessing the Trial of 47 Pro-democracy Activists in Hong Kong's Court

Part 1

[Editor's note: The Hong Kong authorities arrested and charged 47 pro-democracy with #NationalSecurityLaw violations for their participation in the primary election of the democratic camp in 2020. The trial began in the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on March 1, 2021.

The following is a reflective account written by Hong Kong journalist Cheung Hoi-kit.]

In the court room, the 47 pro-democracy activists took half of the seats, crowding the area behind the defendant fence and the seats outside. It is like the entire dissidents camp has been arrested at once. Regardless of their ages, ranks and the political party, they became a community, facing their fate together.

With the large number of defendants and their lawyers, the main court did not have seats for the families, reporters and the public. Families could not stay close to the defendants, not even to have any eye contact, as they had to watch the hearing through the live broadcast.

The main court accomodated neither family members nor reporters. Even more so, no bail statement discussion was allowed. The marathon-style trial was like an epic, where countless tales were recounted.

The court debated on a wide range of media reports of the 47 pro-democracy activists. Although the chief magistrate Victor So said that those stories were touching, he claimed that those reports did not point to any public benefit.

Linda Wong, a senior counsel representing the defendants, argued that those stories were not a paragraph in a fiction, but the experience and the true background of a person. The defendants were not mere numbers.

The cold legal provisions and heart warming personal stories continued to compete in the court room.

Source: HK Citizens News #Mar14
Image: Sophiekiu.artsy
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29387

https://www.hkcnews.com/article/39218/47%E4%BA%BA%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8%E6%A1%88-%E6%B0%91%E4%B8%BB%E6%B4%BE%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8-%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8%E5%A4%A7%E8%B5%B7%E8%A8%B4-39218/%E3%80%90%E6%8E%A1%E8%A8%AA%E6%89%8B%E8%A8%98%E3%80%9147%E4%BA%BA%E6%A1%88%E5%9B%9B%E6%97%A5%E5%9B%9B%E5%A4%9C%E3%80%8C%E5%8F%B2%E8%A9%A9%E5%BC%8F%E6%8F%90%E5%A0%82%E3%80%8D%E7%9A%84%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%9B%E5%82%99%E5%BF%98

#Reflection #PoliticalPrisoners
#Court #47Democrats #PoliticalSuppression
A Journalist's Account: Lengthy Court Hearings Bring 47 Pro-democracy Activists to Exhaustion

[Editor's note: The Hong Kong authorities arrested and charged 47 pro-democracy with #NationalSecurityLaw violations for their participation in the primary election of the democratic camp in 2020. The trial began in the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on March 1, 2021.

The following is a reflective account written by Hong Kong journalist Cheung Hoi-kit.]

Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29388

Continue with Part 2 below:

Among the 47 pro-democracy activists charged, legal scholar Benny Tai has believed in the Hong Kong Basic Law for all his life. He did not say much in court on these consecutive days.

Since the trial could not be done on the first day, he needed to attend two court hearings in the following days. They were an appeal case concerning the Occupy Central with Love and Peace (#OCLP) in 2014 and the bail trial for the primary election. Even the chief magistrate Victor So claimed to see Tai's fatigue.

Laywer Lawrence Lau has helped the pro-democracy protester Tong Ying-Kit, who was the first Hongkongers to be charged with National Security violations. However, this time Lau himself is also one of the defendants being charged with "conspiracy to subvert state powers".

Lau chose to defend himself. He said he had never expected himself to breach the law. The statement was simple and straight-forward.

Former Stand News reporter Gwyneth Ho was cheerful as usual. She was heard humming a Cantonese pop song "So I say I love you" on the first day of the trial.

Former legislator Lam Cheuk-Ting told his wife, "I love you".

However, after days of trial, several defendents started to ger unwell. The atmosphere in the court also changed significantly. For three days and nights, the defendants were even not given a chance to take a shower or change their clothes.

Source: HK Citizens News #Mar14

https://www.hkcnews.com/article/39218/47%E4%BA%BA%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8%E6%A1%88-%E6%B0%91%E4%B8%BB%E6%B4%BE%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8-%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8%E5%A4%A7%E8%B5%B7%E8%A8%B4-39218/%E3%80%90%E6%8E%A1%E8%A8%AA%E6%89%8B%E8%A8%98%E3%80%9147%E4%BA%BA%E6%A1%88%E5%9B%9B%E6%97%A5%E5%9B%9B%E5%A4%9C%E3%80%8C%E5%8F%B2%E8%A9%A9%E5%BC%8F%E6%8F%90%E5%A0%82%E3%80%8D%E7%9A%84%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%9B%E5%82%99%E5%BF%98

#PoliceState #BemnyTai #LawrenceLau #GwynethHo #LamCheukTing

#Reflection #PoliticalPrisoners
#Court #47Democrats #PoliticslSuppression
The #Heartbreaking Moments: When Pro-democracy Activists in Hong Kong Fight for their Last Chance to Speak Up

[Editor's note: The Hong Kong authorities arrested and charged 47 pro-democracy with #NationalSecurityLaw violations for their participation in the primary election of the democratic camp in 2020. The trial began in the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on March 1, 2021.

The following is a reflective account written by Hong Kong journalist Cheung Hoi-kit.]


Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29388

Part 2:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29399

Part 3:

The hearing on March 3, 2021 was heartbreaking.

The bail conditions were discussed. These include a series of bans in elections, social media, media interview and others.

The defense stood up and argued that the bail conditions were too strict.

As most of the defendants are former Legislators and current district councillors who represent the electorates, the bail conditions would silence them totally, causing them to lose their functions in the community.

The girlfriend of Ventus Lau, one of the 47 pro-democracy activists, described that the bail conditions were sending the defendants to their "social death". Granting some form of freedom by sacrificing a large part of their rights is simply unreasonable.

Another heartbreaking moment came as several defendants changed to self-defence. Whether it was a planned strategy or a suddent change of mind, they were fighting for the last chance to speak for themselves. As they spoke, some of them hoarsed while others choked with tears.

Source: HK Citizens News #Mar14
Image: Sophiekiu.artsy

https://www.hkcnews.com/article/39218/47%E4%BA%BA%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8%E6%A1%88-%E6%B0%91%E4%B8%BB%E6%B4%BE%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8-%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8%E5%A4%A7%E8%B5%B7%E8%A8%B4-39218/%E3%80%90%E6%8E%A1%E8%A8%AA%E6%89%8B%E8%A8%98%E3%80%9147%E4%BA%BA%E6%A1%88%E5%9B%9B%E6%97%A5%E5%9B%9B%E5%A4%9C%E3%80%8C%E5%8F%B2%E8%A9%A9%E5%BC%8F%E6%8F%90%E5%A0%82%E3%80%8D%E7%9A%84%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%9B%E5%82%99%E5%BF%98

#Reflection #PoliticalPrisoners
#PoliticalSuppression #Court
“I Plead Guilty, But I Have Done No Wrong”: Former Democratic Party Chairman in Hong Kong on Protest Charges

73-year-old Yeung Sum, former chairman of Hong Kong's Democratic Party, was among the few who plead guilty to participating in an unauthorized protest in the city on August 31, 2019.

The trial began on April 7, 2021 in the District Court in Hong Kong. Below are snippets from Yeung’s guilty plea:

“Your Honor, I plead guilty to the charges related to participating in an unauthorized assembly on Aug 31, 2019, but I have done no wrong, and I will not plead for mercy. The following is my submission."

“I plead guilty to participating in an unauthorized and illegal demonstration, but I will not admit that I did anything wrong.

Although the police did not issue a letter of no objection for the march, I still came forward to participate in the march because I want to uphold the fact that demonstration is a fundamental right of every Hong Kong citizen and should be constitutionally protected.

It was also to protest against the police’s abuse of power, who arbitrarily banned peaceful demonstrations and marches and deprived Hong Kong people of their civil rights.

Therefore, I am willing to put myself on the line and engage in civil disobedience in a peaceful manner, and I am prepared to accept the criminal liability of the law.”

For the full version in Chinese: https://bit.ly/3cUam0Y

Source: Stand News #April7
https://bit.ly/3cW1CaR

#PoliticalPrisoners #YeungSum #CivilDisobedience #AntiELAB #HongKongProtests
#Court #47Democrats #PoliticalSuppression
A Journalist's Account: What has the political situation in Hong Kong become?


[Editor's note: The Hong Kong authorities arrested and charged 47 pro-democracy with #NationalSecurityLaw violations for their participation in the primary election of the democratic camp in 2020. The trial began in the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on March 1, 2021.

The following is a reflective account written by Hong Kong journalist Cheung Hoi-kit.]

Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29388

Part 2:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29399

Part 3:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29408


Part 4:

As a journalist, I really regretted not being able to record all 47 personal stories of the 47 pro-democracy activists in details.

In 2021 Hong Kong, our freedom of speech as well as publication could disappear in no time.

On the fourth day of trial on April 4, 2021, I felt loss ans had a fuzzy memory inside the court.

I can only remember just before the court decision was made, the atmosphere in the court was heated up. The chanting if the pro-democracy supporters broke through the concrete wall of the court, reaching the the press room and the lobby.

This moment is similar to the first day of trial, when thousands of Hongkongers gathered outside the court to show support for the 47 pro-democracy activists.

However, in the end, only 15 out of the 47 dedendants can bail out. Even with that, the Department of Justice immediately asked for an appeal, so in the end, no one can step out of the court.

Afterwards, the families of the defendants screamed and howled. Their sound filled the area outside the court and continued to echo in my mind.

What has the political situation in Hong Kong become? It is a time when almost all the top bar counsels cannot change the situation, nor bring any defendant out of the court with bail.

Source: HK Citizens News #Mar14
Image: Sophiekiu.artsy

https://www.hkcnews.com/article/39218/47%E4%BA%BA%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8%E6%A1%88-%E6%B0%91%E4%B8%BB%E6%B4%BE%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8-%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B8%E5%A4%A7%E8%B5%B7%E8%A8%B4-39218/%E3%80%90%E6%8E%A1%E8%A8%AA%E6%89%8B%E8%A8%98%E3%80%9147%E4%BA%BA%E6%A1%88%E5%9B%9B%E6%97%A5%E5%9B%9B%E5%A4%9C%E3%80%8C%E5%8F%B2%E8%A9%A9%E5%BC%8F%E6%8F%90%E5%A0%82%E3%80%8D%E7%9A%84%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%9B%E5%82%99%E5%BF%98

#Reflection #PoliticalPrisoners
#PoliticalPrisoners #PoliceState
Hong Kong #Court Jails Heavyweight Pro-Democracy Figures: 14 months for Jimmy Lai and 18 months for 'Long Hair'

Source: Stand News #Apr16
Photo: Nasha Chan

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29429
#PoliticalPrisoners #PoliceState
Hong Kong #Court Jails Heavyweight Pro-Democracy Figures: 14 months for Jimmy Lai and 18 months for 'Long Hair'

On April 16, 2021, Hong Kong court jailed some heavy-weight pro-democracy figures for "organising and participating in unauthorized assembly" during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill (#AntiELAB) Movement in 2019.

August 18, 2019 marks one of the largest protests during the movement where pro-democracy Hongkongers walked peacefully in the heavy rain from Victoria Park to Central to express their voice.

The following are the jail terms announced by the distrct judge Amanda Woodcock :

#Longhair #Leung KwokHung: 18 months (the longest term)

#AppleDaily founder #JimmyLai: 14 months (*combinig with another case involving a protest on August 31, 2019)

Former lawmaker #LeeCheukYan: 14 months
(*combinig with another case involving a protest on August 31, 2019)

Former lawmaker #AuNokHin: 10 months

Former lawmaker #CydHo: 8 months.

Former lawmakers #MartinLee,
#MargaretNg, #AlbertHo and #YeungSum: suspended jail terms

Source: Stand News #Apr16
Photo: Nasha Chan

https://bit.ly/3tuIDKs

https://bit.ly/3dnoxMn

https://bit.ly/3e9lgiS

#HKProtests #PoliticalSuppression #JailTerm
#Separation #Hongkongers
On #MothersDay, Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activists, remanded or exiled, Pay Homage to Their Mothers

Usually on Mother’s Day, many families would go out and celebrate. However, some are less fortunate this year in Hong Kong.

On May 9, 2021, exiled former #Demosisto leader #NathanLaw posted a photo with his mother on Facebook. He said this festival reminds him of the many pro-democracy protestors who became separated from their families. “Only until justice is done can family warmth return.”

Nathan Law recalled, “no matter how busy I am, on Mother's Day, I can always let go of my work and sit before a dinner table with my family.”

He admitted he saw festivals as an excuse to step away from work, but this year he thought of all the protestors who were forced into leaving their own families due to political oppression.

“For everyone who is remanded, imprisoned, or exiled, there is always a mother at home waiting for their return, waiting for days, for months, for years.”

He hoped there can be a new meaning for Mother’s Day. “Please remember those behind bars and oceans apart.”

The facebook page of democrat #TakchiTam, who is remanded on National Security charges, also posted a video that was recorded earlier of him singing the song “Mother, I did no wrong.”

In the video, he said the festival also reminded him of all the young men and women exiled or imprisoned due to the movement. However, he believed when people are united in their pursuit of justice and truth, a new family will be forged.

[Editor's note: “Mother, I have done no wrong” is a song written in remembrance of the 1989 June Fourth Massacre in Beijing. The title is a reference to a famous banner raised by the pro-democracy students who went on hunger strike in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

The lyrics sing:

“We want no one to define right or wrong.

We want no one to convict others at will."]

Source: Stand News #May9

https://www.thestandnews.com/society/a-%E4%B8%8D%E4%B8%80%E6%A8%A3%E7%9A%84%E6%AF%8D%E8%A6%AA%E7%AF%80-%E6%B5%81%E4%BA%A1%E7%BE%85%E5%86%A0%E8%81%B0%E4%B8%8A%E8%BC%89%E8%88%87%E6%AF%8D%E8%A6%AA%E5%90%88%E7%85%A7-%E5%85%AC%E7%BE%A9%E5%BD%B0%E9%A1%AF%E6%89%8D%E5%8F%AF%E6%9C%89%E5%AE%B6%E5%BA%AD%E6%BA%AB%E6%9A%96-%E5%BF%AB%E5%BF%85%E8%87%AA%E5%BD%88%E8%87%AA%E5%94%B1-%E5%AA%BD%E5%AA%BD%E6%88%91%E6%B2%92%E6%9C%89%E9%81%8E%E9%8C%AF/

#JuneFourth #Mothers #Exile #PoliticalSuppression #PoliticalPrisoners
#Court #PoliticalPrisoners
10 veteran pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong plead guilty over 'National Mourning Day' Protest in 2019; 'Long Hair' Appears in Court with Short Hair

Source: InMedia #May17

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#Court #PoliticalPrisoners
10 veteran pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong plead guilty over 'National Mourning Day' Protest in 2019; 'Long Hair' Appears in Court with Short Hair


In Hong Kong court on May 17, 2021, ten heavy-weight pro-democracy activists pleaded guilty to "organising an unauthorised protest" on October 1, 2019.

They are former legislators 'long hair' #LeungKwokHung, #AlbertHo, #LeeCheukYan, #YeungSum, #CydHo and #SinChungKai; #AppleDaily founder #JimmyLai; and activists #FigoChan, #AveryNg and #RichardTsoi. That day marked the 'National Mourning Day' protest on the establishment day of the PRC during the Anti-ELAB movement

Among the defendants, convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front (#CHRF) Figo Chan, 'long hair' Leung Kwok-hung, Albert Ho, and Lee Cheuk-yan also pleaded guilty to "inciting" others on September 30, 2019 to take part in the protest.

When '#LongHair' Leung Kwok-hung appeared in court on May 17, 2021, his signature long hair has been cut short. Leung is currently serving his sentence in Stanley Prison for organizing and participating in an 'unauthorized' assembly on August 18, 2019.

The last time he was seen in short hair was in 2014 when serving a 4-week sentence after being convicted of 'causing chaos' in the Legislative Council in 2011. Then, Leung was forced to cut away his long hair due to the appearance policy of the correctional services.

Leung later filed a legal review, pointing out that it is discriminatory when female inmates are allowed to keep long hair while male inmates are not. In November 2020, the Court of Final Appeal approved Leung's review.

Nevertheless, on February 1, 2021, the Department of Correctional Services implemented a new policy where inmates, regardless of their gender, cannot keep their hair beyond their shoulder's length.

Source: InMedia #May17
https://bit.ly/3waOe9r

#PoliticalSuppression #HumanitarianCrisis #CorrectionalServices #NationalMourning
#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

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

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/
#NeverForget #NeverForgive
Over 10,000 People Arrested: 2 Years After the 1-million Pro-Democracy Protest in Hong Kong

Jan (alias), a 17-year-old Hong Kong youth, was charged with rioting.

In the end, he chose to plead guilty.

During a junior high school field trip, Jan visited a prison in Hong Kong. At the time, he thought, "I would never go to jail in my life. What's the point of the visit?"

He never imagined that in just a few years, he would be imprisoned because of a pro-democracy movement.

During a relatively mild clash, Jan was arrested on a charge of unlawful assembly. While he was detained, however, the police suddenly changed his charge to rioting. This was a complete surprise to Jan, and he thought the new charge was ridiculous.

His lawyer eventually managed to secure approval for his bail, though with strict curfew conditions. "I've lost most of my freedoms well before they declare me guilty," Jan said.

During a meeting, his lawyer explained to him that the police already had enough evidence to make the rioting charge stick. His mother immediately broke down in tears; Jan himself was overwhelmed by lethargy, staying up late and skipping school for a whole month, only imagining what prison life would be like.

Eventually, he decided to plead guilty, since it would lead to his sentence being reduced by one-third. After the court hearing, he saw forum posts questioning his plea when he had done no wrong. He was perplexed at their thinking. "'If your heart is truly in this movement,' I thought, 'why would you want any of us to get a longer sentence?"

---

As of April 2021, the Hong Kong Police has arrested over 10,000 people in connection to the 2019 Anti-ELAB movement. Among them, 1,700 were minors.

As of June 7, 2021, according to statistics provided by Stand News, 757 people are charged with riotting. 70% of them are below 25 years old and 75 of them are underaged. As of April 13, 2021, 28 people have been convicted. 23 of them have been sentenced; the longest jail time among them is 5 years and 6 months.

Source: Stand News #Jun9
https://bit.ly/3w2GkPQ

#PoliceState #HumanitarianCrisis #PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoners
#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
#GlobalSolidarity
Czech Terezín Memorial Exhibits Portraits of Hong Kong #PoliticalPrisoners

A painting installation by Hong Kong artist #LorettaLau depicting some Hong Kong political prisoners will open on 7 October 2021 in Terezín Memorial, a former #NAZI concentration camp in the #CzechRepublic.

Lau was invited to take part in Fortress 1980 exhibition and human rights conference. Titled ‘The Cells’, the paintings are installed in solitary confinement cells, a stark reminder of ‘the nature of the dictators has never changed,’ said Lau.

'The Cells' features 13 political prisoners under the Hong Kong National Security Law, including Jimmy Lai Chi-ying, Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, Tony Chung Hon-lam, Agnes Chow Ting, and more.

A faint portrait of each prisoner is painted on a piece of white door curtain installed at the entrance to a solitary confinement cell.

To have a clear view of the portraits, visitors must walk into the cells. Looking from inside out, the images will be lit up by the light outside.

The design aims to arouse the visitor’s empathy with those imprisoned. ‘I hope by having them walking into the cells, they will have a direct and personal experience of how being confined feels like,’ said Loretta.

*Note: The artist Loretta Lauwill stage a live performance at Terezín Memorial at 5pm Thursday Oct 7 (HKT 2300). She will use her movements and voices to commemorate the countless people who suffered in the concentration camps, to resonate between the tragedies in the past and the happening misfortunes.

The performance will be streamed live at: https://youtu.be/IZ6b-KPctOk

Source: Stand News #Oct1

https://www.thestandnews.com/art/%E6%8D%B7%E5%85%8B%E7%B4%8D%E7%B2%B9%E9%9B%86%E4%B8%AD%E7%87%9F%E7%B4%80%E5%BF%B5%E9%A4%A8%E5%B1%95%E8%A6%BD-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E8%97%9D%E8%A1%93%E5%AE%B6%E7%8D%B2%E9%82%80%E5%8F%83%E8%88%87-%E5%B1%95%E5%87%BA%E5%9C%8B%E5%AE%89%E6%B3%95%E8%A2%AB%E6%8D%95%E8%80%85%E8%82%96%E5%83%8F

#Art #Culture #Installation #Exhibition #TheCell #ProtestArt #ConcentrationCamp