Following last week’s arrest of more than 50 pro-democracy activists, the Hong Kong Police Force National Security Thursday (14) again, the arrest of 11 men and women, but the charge is not related to the “Hong Kong National Security Law”, but suspected of “assisting criminals”. The news said, and earlier 12 Hong Kong people smuggling cases related. One of the arrested, is over 70 years old volunteer lawyer Wong Kwok Tung. He has always been obliged to help young protesters, is respected as “Uncle Tong”. His arrest has raised concerns that lawyers who assist protesters will become the next target of the authorities’ crackdown.
“Insist on democracy, rule of law and human rights, don’t give up! Hong Kong people insist!” The moment he was handcuffed from behind and led away from the office, Wong Kwok-tung, a volunteer lawyer in his 70s, shouted with all his might to those present, urging Hong Kong people not to give up the fight for democracy, rule of law and human rights.
He is also a district councillor, social page on Thursday morning (14) posted a message, said the Hong Kong Police State Security at about 6 am to his apartment. He was taken away by the police and then escorted back to the district councilor’s office for a search at noon.
Video [the moment “Uncle Tung” was taken away] [“Hold on! Hong Kong people don’t give up!”]
A number of Hong Kong media quoted news, including Huang Guotong, 11 men and women were arrested on Thursday by the Hong Kong Police Force National Security Division under the name of “assisting criminals”, including eight men and three women, the arrestees aged 18 to 72 years old. Sources said that and earlier 12 Hong Kong people smuggling cases related.
Huang Guotong is one of the volunteer lawyers of the anti-Sending China movement, providing free legal aid for a large number of young protesters, and is respected as “Uncle Tong”. Looking at the photos on his social media pages, he is either visiting imprisoned young people or waiting to meet his clients at police stations. From the heat of summer to the cold of winter, he was always present outside the courts, police stations and prisons, and even stayed overnight. His last online post before his arrest, leaving this paragraph─
“Inside the walls are the young faces of those who have stayed in Hong Kong but lost their freedom. Outside the wall, they are wandering in other countries, living among strangers, with helpless hearts, not knowing when they will return to their homeland. The darker it is, the more we must endure. Hold fast to my heart and walk with you!”
Lam Cheuk Ting: Wong Kwok Tong has been obliged to assist the arrested people
Earlier, also by the Hong Kong police arrested by the National Security Law of the former Legislative Council Member Lam Cheuk Ting, recalled and Wong Kwok Tung get along, praised him has been obliged to help the arrested people.
I usually call him (Huang Guotong) no matter how late it is, and he always comes out right away without hesitation. He often wore sandals, shorts, a long hair, holding a water bottle, then shuttled in different areas of the police station, he also often drove me to the police station in solidarity with the arrested brothers and sisters. Because he has been a lawyer for many years, he is very experienced and does not mind sharing his experience with some of his younger lawyer friends, helping many families and calming them down, as well as dealing with the police. This sense of justice, I am very admired.”
On January 14, 2021, Hong Kong Kowloon City Councilor Wong Kwok Tung was arrested by the police.
Friends say “Uncle Tung” does not want to leave Hong Kong only hope that the rest of his life to shine
Huang Guotong had assisted Hong Kong people in exile in Taiwan to launch the “umbrella” project, opening “umbrella” restaurants and second-hand clothing stores in Taiwan, so that exiled Hong Kong people can work in Taiwan, self-reliance. Although Huang clarified that the “umbrella” restaurant is not his business, the pro-Beijing media Wen Wei Po continued to snipe at him, accusing him of aiding exile and opening a store in Taiwan to hire “absconders”, allegedly violating the National Security Law.
Earlier, the web station “D100” host Jess (formerly known as Yin Yaosheng) was arrested by the Hong Kong police on the charge of “financing secession” and money laundering for launching a crowdfunding project “1,000 Moms and Dads, Taiwan Schooling” to help Hong Kong people going to Taiwan to further their education there.
The “Taiwan Hong Kong Association”, which has a long history of friendship with Huang Guotong, revealed that Huang Guotong had long expected to be arrested one day, but still faced it openly.
Samp said: “He still remains in Hong Kong for the sake of others, regardless of his own safety. Many people asked him why he did not leave Hong Kong, he said exactly to help people. I think this point makes me quite touched, but also a lot of people he helped touched. He himself is also open to face, he once said he is 70 years old, nothing, just want to shine in the rest of his life.”
Thorpe sighed, Huang Guotong willing to give his life with all the hands and feet to walk, very respectable. He also said that the “umbrella” restaurant is only doing business, plus Huang Guotong did not participate in its operation, questioning how to endanger national security. He believes that the authorities have long regarded Huang Guotong as a thorn in their side, hoping to liquidate him.
Lawyer Huang Guotong (center) arrives at the Polytechnic University to meet with Hong Kong protesters on Nov. 25, 2019.
Samp said, “Just think how many young people he has assisted in lawsuits? You can say he assisted criminals simply by fighting lawsuits, right? So one ‘umbrella’, one he works as a human rights lawyer, maybe these two things have made him targeted by the state security organs. (If, as the police say), it’s simply assisting criminals to escape, I don’t think the state security organs have any room to speak. It’s not about what he’s done, it’s about him as a person.”
Samp believes this incident is a harbinger of the authorities’ efforts to deal with lawyers, and worries that more lawyers will be arrested in the future.
Reportedly involved in the case of 12 Hong Kong people including the provision of funds
Including Huang Guotong, a total of 11 men and women were arrested in the incident, including Huang’s neighbors, as well as a Ukrainian man. Police sources said that the arrested people have different roles in the case, including responsible for providing funds, arranging smuggling routes and boats, driving pick-ups and responsible for liaison.
In October last year, the police also arrested nine people, said they helped 12 Hong Kong people smuggling, some of them are alleged to be the owner of the boat, to provide a hiding place or contact the Taiwan pick-up, etc.
The 12 Hong Kong people smuggled from Hong Kong to Taiwan at the end of August last year, was arrested by the Chinese Marine Police. Two of the juvenile defendants were transferred back to Hong Kong late last year, and the other 10 were charged with “organizing others to smuggle across the border” and “smuggling across the border” and sentenced to 7 months to 3 years by the Shenzhen Yantian District Court.
Recent Comments