Hong Kong‘s 47 pan-democrats to participate in the primary election was charged with “conspiracy to subvert state power,” Monday (March 1) the first session, after hearing more than 14 hours, the judge to someone physical exhaustion announced the suspension of the hearing, it is said that the defendant Yang Xueying once fainted, all the defendants need to return scabbard correctional guards. “The Washington Post said that “every prominent activist in Hong Kong is either imprisoned or in exile”. The Chinese mouthpiece “Bauhinia” published the full text of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong’s “Patriots Rule Hong Kong”, naming Lai Chi-ying, Tai Yiu-ting and Wong Chi-fung, saying their illegal acts should be severely punished according to the law. (By Li Zhi Zhi/Kevin Hu/He Jingwen)
The first day of the trial of 47 pro-democracy activists charged with “conspiracy to subvert state power” is a rare occasion when the court has to hear a case overnight because of the large number of defendants.
The lawyer in charge of the case of Zhao Jiaxian and others, Qiu Lupang, was once taken away by the police.
At 7 p.m., the gates of the courthouse were closed, and the security guards said the courtroom was “closed to entry”. Later, a lawyer in charge of the case of Zhao Jiaxian, Yang Xueying and others, Yau Lupong, outside the courthouse at nearly 10 p.m., explained to police officers that he was the defendant’s lawyer and wanted to enter the courthouse, the police asked him to produce relevant documents, but Yau Lupong refused, and questioned the police do not have the right to block the courthouse.
After that, Yau was handcuffed from behind and taken to a police car. He still had the documents in his hands, but they were later taken away by the police. The police also refused to explain the reason, but asked the lawyer to go to the police station to inquire in person.
Yang Xueying fainted and the judge suspended the hearing until Tuesday morning.
The marathon trial began at 11 a.m. Monday, and the court adjourned at about 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. to hear the defendants’ bail arguments again. At about 1 a.m. on Tuesday (March 2), one of the defendants, Yang Xueying, suddenly felt sick and fainted, and the judge declared a temporary adjournment. Paramedics then arrived and took her to Caritas Hospital for treatment. To about 2:30 after the court reopened, shortly after the opening of the court, the responsibility of the “National Security Law” designated judge So Wai Tak said that a defendant fainted, plus another defendant Dai Yaoting Tuesday morning to the Court of Appeal hearing, decided to postpone the hearing until 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, and then deal with the defendants’ bail applications, Yang Xueying and is in the hospital for medical treatment did not come to court Xu Zimian to police custody, the rest of the defendants to the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
On Monday, the queue outside the court turned from Tung Chau Street to Tokyo Street West and then to Ying Wa Street. On the streets of Hong Kong, many long-lost slogans, such as “Go Hong Kong”, “I am a Hong Kong citizen” and “Born in chaos, you have a responsibility”, reappeared.
The charge alleges that 47 people aimed to subvert state power
The charge alleges that the 47 persons committed the offence under Article 22(3) of the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law, aiming at subverting state power by organizing, planning, committing or participating in the commission of the offence by threatening to use force or other unlawful means with the intention of abusing the powers entrusted to them under the Basic Law after their election to the Legislative Council.
The defense applied for bail for each defendant criticizing the prosecution for the unreasonable three-month postponement
The prosecution applied in court to postpone the case for three months until May 31 to allow the police to conduct further investigations, including cracking a number of mobile devices to conduct more than 400 digital forensic and money flow analysis.
A number of lawyers representing the defendants opposed the prosecution’s application, including the Bar Association Chairman and senior barrister Xia Boyi, who considered the Time too long, coupled with the fact that some of the defendants are old, suggested that the case be postponed for one month; another senior barrister Pan Xi criticized that the prosecution’s request to postpone the case for three months is an abuse of power and procedures; some lawyers representing the defendants in court also pointed out that many of the defendants are still serving district councilors and have a lot of official business to handle In the court, some lawyers representing the defendants pointed out that many of the defendants are still serving district councilors and have a lot of official duties to handle.
The prosecution is based on the Court of Final Appeal’s decision to deny bail to Lai Chi-ying, saying that unless the court is satisfied that the defendant will not act against national security, bail should not be granted, saying that the defendant still intends to continue his plan to subvert the government and opposing the defendant’s recognizance.
The first day of hearings lasted 15 hours before the judge adjourned the case, and 21 defendants were heard on bail for the time being. 26 defendants have not yet made their bail statements.
Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong names Lai Chi-ying, Tai Yiu-ting and Wong Chi-fung
On the other hand, the March issue of the Chinese mouthpiece Bauhinia magazine was “exclusively authorized” to publish a speech by Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong at the National Conference on Hong Kong and Macau Studies last Monday (Feb. 22). Xia Baolong named three people, including Next Media founder Lai Chi-ying, who is still in custody, and former Hong Kong People’s Liberation Army secretary-general Wong Chi-fung, who is in prison, and Tai Yiu-ting, who is currently facing trial. Xia Baolong said the three are “anti-China and rebellious elements” among the extremely bad, they can not be allowed to have access to any public power in Hong Kong, and must be given severe punishment according to the law.
Xia Baolong also said, whether in the SAR’s executive, legislative, judicial and other organs of power, or in the District Council and other non-government organizations, as well as Education, the media and other areas, has not really formed a solid “patriots ruling Hong Kong” situation.
As all three have cases under trial, it is interesting to see whether Xia Baolong’s speech has obstructed justice.
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