Hong Kong’s Veteran Pro-Democracy Activists Defiant as They Hear Charges in Court

Hong Kong’s Veteran Pro-Democracy Activists Defiant as They Hear Charges in Court
Pro-democracy activists chant slogans outside the West Kowloon Magistrates Court, in Hong Kong, China, on May 18, 2020. (Jessie Pang/Reuters)
Reuters
5/18/2020
Updated:
5/18/2020

HONG KONG—Some of the 15 pro-democracy activists arrested in police raids in Hong Kong showed defiance on May 18 as they appeared in court to hear charges of participating in illegal pro-democracy demonstrations last year.

Veteran politicians, a publishing tycoon, and senior lawyers were among those arrested last month in the biggest crackdown on the movement’s key figures since the protests began. The move drew criticism from rights activists and Western politicians.

At the time, China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office called the arrests “normal law enforcement measures” made on the basis of evidence gathered by police, adding that certain “radicals” were blind to the interference of outside forces.

The West Kowloon magistrates’ court granted bail to all the defendants and adjourned the case until June 15 at the prosecution’s request. Several defendants made defiant remarks when asked if they understood their charges.

“Demonstrating is not a crime,” Figo Chan, the vice-convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, responded. “I understand this.”

Former legislator Leung Kwok-hung, also known as “Long Hair,” answered, “I understand the government is rubbish.”

Raphael Wong, an activist with the League of Social Democrats, said “I understand this is political prosecution.”

The Hong Kong government and police denied the arrests were politically motivated, saying they were in accordance with the rule of law.

Others held on charges of illegal assembly included Democratic Party founder Martin Lee, millionaire publishing tycoon Jimmy Lai, and former lawmaker and barrister Margaret Ng.

In all, one serving and nine former legislators were arrested, including veteran activists Lee Cheuk-yan and Yeung Sum.

A family member cries and bid farewell to a prison van after protester Sin Ka-ho has been sentenced four years for rioting, in Hong Kong, China on May 15, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)
A family member cries and bid farewell to a prison van after protester Sin Ka-ho has been sentenced four years for rioting, in Hong Kong, China on May 15, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Last year’s protests in the Chinese-ruled city began over a proposed bill that, if passed, would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China for trial. But it was later scrapped.

Dozens of rival pro-democracy and pro-Beijing supporters gathered outside the courtroom, where proceedings could be seen on a screen. Western diplomats were present inside the court.

This month, United Nations human rights experts had urged authorities to drop the prosecution, provoking a strong rebuttal from Beijing.

Police officers arrest a demonstrator (C) during a pro-democracy protest calling for the city's independence in Hong Kong, China, on May 10, 2020. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images)
Police officers arrest a demonstrator (C) during a pro-democracy protest calling for the city's independence in Hong Kong, China, on May 10, 2020. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images)
The arrests came amid a period of relative calm on the streets as the scale and frequency of protests ebbed since January, amid social distancing measures adopted in Hong Kong to guard against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak.

But as the CCP virus is being curbed, demonstrations have picked up again, drawing hundreds of participants, and are expected to gather steam as anger simmers amid a renewed push by authorities for tougher national security legislation in the city.

Britain returned Hong Kong to China in 1997, and the territory was promised a high degree of autonomy for 50 years under a “one country, two systems” arrangement that has helped it thrive as a world financial center.

By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.