Eight Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have been released on bail after their first court appearance on Thursday (December 17).
Eight people, including Chen Haohuan, convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, and Chu Kaidi, a former legislator, were arrested on December 8 on suspicion of organizing, holding or participating in unauthorised rallies or demonstrations on June 30 and July 1 this year.
Eight pro-democracy activists were arrested and released on bail in the afternoon. The eight pro-democracy activists were charged with three different offences, including “inciting others to knowingly participate in an unauthorized assembly”, “holding or organizing an unauthorized assembly” and “knowingly participate in an unauthorized assembly”.
The Judge of the West Kowloon Court ruled on Thursday that each defendant was adjourned to Hear the case on February 8 next year. The eight defendants were each granted bail of $1,000 but were not allowed to leave Hong Kong.
In addition to Chen Haohuan and Chu Kaidi, the eight defendants also included Tung District Councillor Tsang Kin-shing, Xu Zijian and Chen Wing-tai; And former legislative Councillors Ho Chi Wai, Leung Kwok-hung (long Hair) and Social Democratic Link member Tang Sai Lee.
Since December 1, the Hong Kong government has stepped up its crackdown on pro-democracy activists. Former Hong Kong zhongzhi sons Huang Zhifeng, Zhou Ting and Lam Langyan were jailed; Caged Li Zhiying, the founder of Next Media, is charged with the crime of “colluding with foreign forces or harming national security” under the security laws. Ma Junwen, known as “Captain America Ii,” was denied bail by a Hong Kong High Court judge on Dec. 15 after being charged with violating Hong Kong’s version of the Country’s national Security law by inciting others to split the country. Chung Han-lin, the former convenor of Hong Kong’s “Student activist”, was found guilty on December 11 of two counts of “insulting the National flag” and without bail.
Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong denounced the move as a “grand reckoning” by the government, which has been politically clamping down on pro-democracy activists who disagree with the government and Beijing.
Some Hong Kong scholars also point out that the recent “big arrests” in Hong Kong will turn the city into a “regime of fear”. “Using terror and fear to govern Hong Kong is a common tactic used by authoritarian regimes,” Chan Ka-lo, associate professor of politics and international relations at Hong Kong Baptist University, said at a press conference on December 8.
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