A member of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HKA), which the Hong Kong government caused to disband, is in court for refusing a National Security Office request, made in 2021, to hand over information. When former HKA vice-chairman Chow Hang-tung used the words “Tiananmen massacre” and “killing” when speaking in court, the judge banned the words from being used and asked that the massacre be referred to as the “June 4th Incident.”
During the trial, that began on Oct. 26, Chow Hang-tung repeatedly said “Tiananmen Massacre” and “killing” when questioning prosecution witnesses. Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen, designated national security law judge, ordered that those words not be used, and said “not to bring politics to court,” and said that everyone knows what’s being talked about and how you describe it doesn’t matter. “The ’massacre‘ cannot be downgraded to an ’incident,'” said Chow. She also pointed out that “killing” is a neutral term. “If ‘killing’ is not used, how can I describe it?”
Backbone of HKA Arrested as an Alleged ‘Foreign Agent’
On Oct. 28, Chow questioned the necessity for the “Notice Requesting Information” issued by the National Security Department (NSD), pointing out that the personal information of the chairman and executive committee members of the HKA, as well as financial expenditures and other information can be obtained from the company registry or other public information arenas.The original explanation of the “Refusal to give police info re investigation into the HKA” is that on Aug. 25, 2021, the NSD sent a letter to the HKA claiming that the HKA was a “foreign agent,” and requesting handover of certain internal information.
‘Instructed by Heroic Spirit of Those Killed on Tiananmen Square’
HKA Standing Committee member Tsui Hon-kwong once filed a judicial review on the NSD’s request for the HKA information. Tsui told the media that the five operational goals of the alliance were in the interests of China, and that HKA does not receive foreign money, is not instructed by foreign countries, and does not act for foreign interests. He also stated that he had served as a member of the HKA standing committee for 31 years and was instructed by the heroic spirit of those killed on Tiananmen Square.The HKA was formed during the 1989 democracy movement. On May 20, 1989, the CCP authorities declared martial law in Beijing, triggering the march of millions of Hong Kong residents to protest on the streets on May 21 in solidarity with the mainland’s democracy movement.
HKA Commemorated June 4th Massacre for 31 years, Stopped by National Security Law
On June 4, 1989, the Chinese regime launched a bloody attack on protestors on Tiananmen Square using tanks and armed soldiers. The HKA participated in the rescue operations, and rescued a large number of student leaders and pro-democracy activists. The HKA has held a candlelight vigil in Victoria Park every year for more than 30 years, which has left a deep impression on Hong Kong and the international community.However, since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Hong Kong government has begun suppressing the June 4 commemoration activities. The Hong Kong government banned gatherings on June 4th in Victoria Park, in 2020 and 2021, using the COVID-19 pandemic as justification. Twenty-four pro-democracy activists were sentenced to 4 to 14 months in prison for lighting candles in Victoria Park on June 4, 2020. On the eve of June 4, 2021, Chow issued a document calling on the public to commemorate June 4th for which she was imprisoned. She was convicted and sentenced again this year, and will be jailed for 22 months in total, including the 2021 sentence.
