Artist Wang Zong-yao attends a hearing at the West Kowloon Law Courts on Dec. 18, 2020.
In Hong Kong, 12 people, including former president of the Hong Kong University Student Union Sun Xiaolan, spokesman of the civil assembly team Winnie Lau and artist Wang Zongyao, were charged with “entering or staying in the chamber” for breaking into the Legislative Council on July 1 last year, and later charged with rioting. Some defendants appealed to the outside world to continue to pay attention to the 12 Hong Kong youths detained in mainland China.
A number of people have been prosecuted in Hong Kong’s anti-amendment movement, including protesters who were charged with rioting after occupying the Legislative Council on July 1 last year, including: former president of the Hong Kong University Student Union Sun Xiaolan, spokesperson of the civil assembly team Liu Yingkang, artist Wong Chung-yiu, City University student journalist Wong Ka-ho, chef Lo Lok-sang, garage worker Chow Lok-him, transport worker Ho Chun-pro, “female village head of Occupy Wong” Bi Hui-fen, painter Poon Ho-chiu, student Man Ka-kin, the The Hot Times journalist Ma Qicong and site worker Shen Jingle. Their cases will be brought together again on Friday.
Judge proposes to split 12 people’s cases for re-arraignment
The prosecution, on behalf of the Department of Justice, proposed to amend the charges by adding the name of a new defendant, Fan Chun-man, to the riot case, and to try the cases of the 12 defendants together, because they are consecutive incidents with common witnesses and coherence, arguing that there is a need for consolidation. The defense did not object.
The judge believes that the case can be divided into two parts, the first part occurred outside the Legislative Council and government headquarters; the second part occurred in the Legislative Council, and the first part only involves the 6th defendant “Jim Wong painter” Poon Ho Chiu. The judge said that according to the case, in addition to the 6th defendant, the rest of the defendants are not involved in the first part of the case, do not understand why the case will be heard together, “to 11 defendants sitting in court to see the 6th defendant trial”, and said that “not all images are to be shown to the court, otherwise the trial several patience can not be completed.
Senior barrister Pan Xi, representing defendant A1 Wong Ka Ho, agreed to split the case. The judge said he observed that only the defendant Wong Ka Ho is a journalist, the case may be different points of contention. The lawyer for defendant A2 Lo Lok Sang agreed that the case of defendants A1 and A2 was unique.
The judge asked the prosecution to draft the charges after the split, some of the defendants need time to obtain legal advice, in addition to the defendant “Chamwang female village chief” Bi Hui Fen, painter Poon Ho Chiu maintained scabbard, the rest of the defendants were allowed to bail, the case was postponed to March 26 and then arraignment.
The defendants appealed to the outside world to pay attention to 12 Hong Kong youth
The former president of the Hong Kong University Student Union, Sun Xiaolan, showed the media a handwritten slogan “save12hkyouths” with the names of 12 Hong Kong people who were “sent to China”, she said that in the past, the court will bring this slogan, which is her message.
On December 18, 2020, Sun Xiaolan, former president of the Hong Kong University Student Union, holds the slogan “save12hkyouths”.
Wang Zong-yao, wearing a yellow mask in court, said he faced the case with a normal heart and hoped that the outside world would continue to pay attention to the situation of 12 Hong Kong people and other arrested people. He said in an interview that there are new developments in the case, the judge will sit again depending on how the case will be split.
Wang Zongyao said: today a big wave of man came to our place to support the scene, are very worried about him in Wuhan pneumonia, hope he is healthy.
Reporter: How is the fundraising situation for legal fees?
Wang Zong-yao said: progress is okay, because originally very worried about the case scheduled for trial, to put the deposit in the attorney’s office there, now has been prepared to set some money, in a matter, there is a certain experience, is to know that I am more fortunate, there are many other defendants, experiencing the same economic difficulties, to some unjustified charges, facing some court trials, if the period is longer, or lawyers litigation costs are more serious, they may not have enough support, this we have to give sufficient attention.
During the visit, Shek Fong-yau (Big Wave Man), a member of Hong Kong’s radical pro-establishment activist and pro-communist group “Loyalist Democratic League”, insulted and attacked Wang outside the court, but Wang’s supporters immediately stopped Shek Fong-yau. The court was also attended by Wang Zong Yao’s supporters with homemade love signs. She said she has patronized the teahouse where Wang Zong Yao is the store manager many times and described Wang Zong Yao as so heartfelt that “many Hong Kong artists are afraid to speak out.
The trial attracted a large number of people to the courtroom, including supporter Granny Wong, who shook hands and hugged the defendant, Winnie Lau, and others after the trial.
On December 18, 2020, Granny Wong (left) holds a yellow umbrella in support of Winnie Lau (right), the spokesperson of the civil assembly team, and others.
The 12 were also charged with rioting and “entering or remaining within the precincts of the Chamber,” alleging that they participated in a riot with other unknown persons at the Legislative Council Complex on July 1, 2019, and failed to observe order or comply with instructions given by Legislative Council staff to maintain order while staying in the Chamber on the same day. Wong Ka Ho, a student journalist, was charged with criminal damage for damaging, without reasonable excuse, a copy of the Basic Law belonging to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the same day and in the same place. Painter Poon Ho-chiu was also charged with rioting outside the Legislative Council, unlawful assembly and criminal damage.
The law provides that the maximum penalty for the charge of “entering or remaining within the precincts of the Chamber” is three months’ imprisonment, while the maximum penalty for rioting is 10 years’ imprisonment.
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