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Seven activists jailed for up to 12 months over unauthorized protest in 2020
Seven democracy campaigners, including former lawmakers “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung and Eddie Chu Hoi-dick were jailed for up to 12 months on Saturday, for their role in a protest last year against a sweeping national security law imposed by China.
The seven had pleaded guilty to charges that included organizing the unauthorized assembly on July 1, 2020, when thousands of protesters took to the streets. Police, who had banned the demonstration citing coronavirus restrictions, fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse them.
Related story: Figo Chan, Wu Chi-wai and five others plead guilty over unauthorized July 1 assembly
Apart from Chu, 44, and Leung, 65, the activists included former convenor of the now-disbanded Civil Human Rights Front Figo Chan Ho-wun, 25, activist Bull Tsang Kin-shing, 64, Tang Sai-lai, 58, former district councilor Andy Chui Chi-kin, 53, and former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai, 58.
Chan was jailed for 12 months, while Tsang and Wu were jailed for 10 months. Chui, Chu and Tang were jailed for six months, Leung on the other hand was sentenced to get eight months behind bars.
Including this case, Chan involved in four cases was jailed for 21 months in total; Leung involved in five cases was jailed for 23 months; and Chu involved in two cases was jailed for eight months.
"The nature of incitement was serious," said the judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong, noting that it created the risk of violence.
Beijing imposed a national security law on June 30 last year as a response to widespread anti-government protests in 2019 that roiled the city. The law, drawn up by China, sets out to punish subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
The protest took place the next day - the first full day under the new law, though civil society groups had held deminstrations on July 1 for years to champion various issues, including democratic rights.
Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise its wide-ranging freedoms and high degree of autonomy would be preserved. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly denied curbing human rights and freedoms.
"We could only choose civil disobedience as a peaceful, rational and non-violent way to express our demand against the national security law," Chan said in mitigation.
"In order to uphold the belief of civil disobedience, I decided to plead guilty, admitting that I violated the 'evil public order law'."
At least 370 people were arrested that day for illegal assembly and other offenses, with ten involving violations of the security law, according to police.
Related story: Figo Chan, Wu Chi-wai and five others plead guilty over unauthorized July 1 assembly
Apart from Chu, 44, and Leung, 65, the activists included former convenor of the now-disbanded Civil Human Rights Front Figo Chan Ho-wun, 25, activist Bull Tsang Kin-shing, 64, Tang Sai-lai, 58, former district councilor Andy Chui Chi-kin, 53, and former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai, 58.
Chan was jailed for 12 months, while Tsang and Wu were jailed for 10 months. Chui, Chu and Tang were jailed for six months, Leung on the other hand was sentenced to get eight months behind bars.
Including this case, Chan involved in four cases was jailed for 21 months in total; Leung involved in five cases was jailed for 23 months; and Chu involved in two cases was jailed for eight months.
"The nature of incitement was serious," said the judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong, noting that it created the risk of violence.
Beijing imposed a national security law on June 30 last year as a response to widespread anti-government protests in 2019 that roiled the city. The law, drawn up by China, sets out to punish subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
The protest took place the next day - the first full day under the new law, though civil society groups had held deminstrations on July 1 for years to champion various issues, including democratic rights.
Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise its wide-ranging freedoms and high degree of autonomy would be preserved. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly denied curbing human rights and freedoms.
"We could only choose civil disobedience as a peaceful, rational and non-violent way to express our demand against the national security law," Chan said in mitigation.
"In order to uphold the belief of civil disobedience, I decided to plead guilty, admitting that I violated the 'evil public order law'."
At least 370 people were arrested that day for illegal assembly and other offenses, with ten involving violations of the security law, according to police.
