The verdict of the 818 case was announced on the 16th, and before 5:00 a.m. people were lined up to be present at the trial, and one of the defendants, Lee Cheuk-yan, was in court.
One Media Group founder Lai Chi-ying, Hong Kong Democratic Party founding chairman Lee Chu-ming, Albert Ho and nine other pro-democracy activists were charged with participating in the “818” and “831” illegal rallies in 2019. The Hong Kong West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court announced the trial results on the 16th, and Lai Chi-ying was sentenced to a total of 14 months in prison for the two cases; Lee Chu-ming’s sentence was reduced due to the age factor, and he was sentenced to 11 months and suspended for 24 months.
On August 18, 2019, Lai Chi-ying, Lee Chu-ming and seven other pan-democrats were convicted of organizing and participating in an illegal assembly during a “running rally” held by the Hong Kong Civil Human Rights Front in Victoria Park.
The lawyers appointed by Martin Lee and Albert Ho pleaded with the judge in the morning of the 16th, stressing that the key to the case was that the march did not involve violence, did not cause property damage, and did not advocate conflict with the police; both of them did not advocate the use of and allow violent demonstrations to take place, and they were senior legal professionals, asking the court whether they really wanted to send them to jail.
The 818 case was sentenced on the 16th, less than 5:00 a.m. people have lined up to prepare for the audience, one of the defendants Ho Sau Lan to the court hearing.
The police did not give any warning or make any arrests on that day. I hope the court will consider imposing non-custodial sentences when sentencing.
After the court hearing, the previously pleaded guilty to Au Nuo Xuan was sentenced to 10 months, Leung Yiu-chung was sentenced to 8 months, suspended for 12 months.
The verdict of the 818 case was announced on the 16th, and before 5 a.m., people were lined up to be present at the hearing, and one of the defendants, Lee Chu-ming, appeared in court.
The results of the 7 people who presented their case today are as follows: Ho Sau Lan was sentenced to 8 months; Lai Chi Ying and Lee Cheuk-yan were sentenced to 12 months; Albert Ho and Ng Yi Yee were sentenced to 12 months and suspended for 24 months; Leung Kwok Hung was the heaviest sentence among the 7 people, sentenced to 18 months in prison; 83-year-old Lee Chu Ming was sentenced to 11 months and suspended for 24 months due to the age factor.
In addition, Lai Chi-ying was charged with conspiracy to collaborate with foreign powers and attempting to obstruct justice, and was remanded to June 15 for retrial.
Lai Chi-ying, founder of Next Media Group. (ISAAC LAWRENCE/AFP via Getty Images)
International attention to the European Union many representatives to show solidarity
Many people were present at the sentencing, including a number of foreign consulate generals, including Charles Whiteley, deputy head of the European Union office in Hong Kong, Rogier Hekking, deputy consul general of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, and Joakim Ladeborn, deputy consul general of the Swedish consulate in Hong Kong, as well as the Australian, Canadian and French consulates.
Veris said that the 27 foreign ministers of the European Union followed the case closely because it involved a peaceful demonstration initiated by prominent democrats and that the trial was a landmark event, which is why he came to observe it.
Apart from foreigners, many people in Hong Kong also came to show their solidarity, such as Mak Hoi-wah, a member of the Standing Committee of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and Chairman of the Management Committee of the June Fourth Memorial Hall, Chan Ka-lok, a former legislator of the Civic Party and Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science and International Relations of the Baptist University, Cardinal Joseph Zen Yat-kwan, an honorary cardinal of Hong Kong, and Fernando Cheung, a former legislator. Lai Chi-ying’s daughter also appeared outside the court early in the morning.
Qian Zhijian, a veteran hedge fund manager in Hong Kong and former regional head of London-listed hedge fund Man Investments, said in an interview that the sentencing of Lai Chi-ying and Lee Chu-ming had symbolic significance, foreshadowing how future national security law cases would develop. He said the current situation is not optimistic, because the Chinese Communist Party’s mouthpiece media in Hong Kong continues to create momentum, using some words to warn (admonish) the judge to conduct a so-called “fair trial.
Qian Zhijian said that less than nine months after the promulgation of the “Hong Kong version of the national security law,” Hong Kong has become mainlandized, freedom of the press and freedom of expression are undermined, feeling surreal. He cited the example of Hong Kong Police Commissioner Deng Bingqiang, who recently attended the “National Security Education Day” event, asking the media to pay the price for their reporting, but the media are only fulfilling their duties as journalists.
Taiwan’s presidential office condemns the Chinese Communist Party’s pledge to continue supporting Hong Kong
In response to the guilty verdict of the Hong Kong court, presidential spokesman Tun-Han Chang said that the Chinese Communist Party continues to violate democracy and human rights in Hong Kong, and once again expressed high regret and condemnation, and the verdict will undoubtedly make the right of the people of Hong Kong to assemble and march significantly restricted.
The ruling will undoubtedly result in a significant curtailment of the people’s right to assemble and march in Hong Kong. Once again, I call on the Chinese Communist Party to face up to the mainstream public opinion of the Hong Kong people, and only through sincere dialogue with the Hong Kong people can the controversy be resolved and Hong Kong society return to calm. And democratic Taiwan will continue to support Hong Kong, support Hong Kong people, and support universal values.
Taiwan’s Land Commission: Do not settle scores after the fall or you will be spurned
The Land Commission expressed its sympathy and regret for the repeated political suppression of respectable Hong Kong democrats. The relevant parties first deprived these people of the right to assemble and march, and now criminalize their peaceful and rational expression of their demands, in an attempt to spread the chilling effect; the Land Commission is saddened by the situation of Hong Kong’s democrats, as well as the sinking of the situation in Hong Kong.
The Council condemned the use of legal means to silence dissidents, and reiterated its hope that all prisoners of conscience in Hong Kong will be released immediately, and called on those in power to stop settling scores and purging dissidents, or they will be spurned by the people.
A number of British, American and Canadian politicians also issued statements through the British organization Hong Kong Watch, in which the late Governor Chris Patten criticized the Chinese Communist Party for its continued brutal violations of the rule of law and freedom in Hong Kong, and for its failure to understand that attacks and imprisonment are no way to make people love a totalitarian and corrupt regime. The Chinese Communist Party simply does not understand that attacks and imprisonment will not make people fall in love with a totalitarian and corrupt regime.
“Hong Kong’s values are being violated by the Chinese Communist Party on the one hand; while at the same time carefully protecting the interests of the family and friends of Beijing’s leaders, stored in Hong Kong through corruption.” Those who destroy Hong Kong will be remembered, Patten said, “even if in time they will flee the city in a hurry with foreign passports.”
Stephen Kinnock, the British Labour Party’s shadow cabinet minister for Asia, described “today as the darkest day for democracy, freedom of speech and freedom in Hong Kong,” but also inspired more people to recognize the need for resolute and united opposition to the authoritarian bullying of the Chinese Communist Party.
U.S. Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican, said he urged the immediate release of Lai Chi-ying, Lee Cheuk-yan, and others who have been sentenced, and stood with Hong Kong people who are fighting for freedom and democracy. “The (U.S.) government should work with our allies and partners to support Hong Kong people and impose meaningful sanctions on the Chinese Communist Party.”
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