At only 19 years old, Tony Chung is unable to focus on his college studies or his career path. Like many young pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong today who have been arrested, he is haunted by a different problem.
Since last summer’s widespread protests in Hong Kong, Hanlin Chung has been subjected to a post-mortem by the authorities for his active participation.
A former leader of Studentlocalism, a Hong Kong-based pro-democracy activist group, Chung is responsible for communications and policy-making. He has been involved in activism for freedom in Hong Kong since he was 14 years old. That was the first time he took to the streets in a demonstration.
On July 29, Chung was the first political figure to be arrested under the National Security Law on charges of “inciting secession. Hanlin told VOA that he was concerned about the fairness of the judicial process.
I have always advocated for the independence of Hong Kong,” said Mr. Chung. The Hong Kong government doesn’t allow the opposition to emerge, so I’m even more worried now.”
John Chung was rearrested Tuesday (Oct. 27) by officers of the National Security Branch of the Hong Kong Police Force, a stone’s throw from the U.S. Consulate. He was reportedly preparing to seek asylum at the U.S. Consulate. His former organization reported him missing early in the morning on social media.
According to local media reports, Hanlin Chung is now being detained at a police station in Central, Hong Kong, after being picked up by National Security Law Enforcement officers.
Hanlin Chung has already been charged with other crimes and is at risk of jail time. He was charged with “criminal damage” before the new National Security Law went into effect.
Chung told VOA, “My legal representative will file a motion to change the charges to ‘insulting the national flag’ and ‘unlawful assembly. But my lawyers are considering that if I choose not to plead guilty, I could be sentenced to four to six months in prison.”
Despite facing jail time, Hanlin is more concerned about the charges against him under the National Security Law. It’s different from the common law before Hong Kong,” he says. The National Security Law is closer to Chinese law, and it’s harder to provide evidence of innocence.”
Since Beijing’s imposition of national security laws in Hong Kong, critics around the world have criticized the destruction of Hong Kong’s unique freedoms.
Under the 1997 Sino-British “one country, two systems” agreement, Beijing pledged Hong Kong would maintain a “high degree of autonomy” until 2047 after the transfer of sovereignty to China.
After protests for democracy broke out in Hong Kong last year, Beijing implemented the National Security Law in Hong Kong on June 30, 2020. The details of this law, which prohibits secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign powers, can be widely interpreted.
Mainland China’s judicial system and trial methods under the Chinese Communist Party differed from those in Hong Kong, a former British colony.
The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, Carrie Lam, said that after the implementation of the new National Security Law, Hong Kong “has seen a dramatic reduction in violent crime and a gradual restoration of social tranquility. She said that if stability is maintained, Hong Kong’s economy can recover.
The new National Security Law has naturally affected the dissidents in the city. Democracy activist Nathan Law fled to the UK soon after the new law went into effect. Another prominent activist, Agnes Chow, was also arrested under the law.
Protests on the streets of Hong Kong have subsided, in part due to concerns about the implications of the law. The protesters’ oft-chanted slogan, “Hong Kong back to the times,” has also been banned in Hong Kong.
The Voice of America contacted the Hong Kong police for this story, but they had no comment.
Looking to the future, Hanlin Chung is naturally pessimistic. “Student Activism’s activities in Hong Kong have been suspended, and he is not allowed to leave the city while awaiting trial.
The situation I’m in now is just a big prison,” says Hanlin Chung. I don’t have many options. I can only walk around now.” Despite the uncertainty of the future, Hanlin decided to stay in Hong Kong.
The problem,” he says, “is that a lot of people want to leave Hong Kong and start a new life and forget the past. I can’t accept that. For me, I still want to be with the people of Hong Kong.”
Recent Comments