#FirstHand #Feb28
Hong Kong Police charge 47 Pro-democracy Figures for "Subverting State Powers"; Lester Shum: Hongkongers Will Not Surrender to the Authoritarian Regime

See photos:
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/28801

The photos captured moments before Hong Kong pro-democracy activist #LesterShum arrived at the Police Station on Feb 28, 2021. Shum had been become known as a student activist during the 2014 Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong. Currently, he is a district councillor of the Tsuen Wan District in Hong Kong and is likely to lose his seat while facing political persecution and oppression.

The 27-year-old Shum went hand in hand with his newly-wedded wife to the police station. He talked to the media calmly before heading in to face the unknown.

Shum said in 2019 he had made his decision to fight on, regardless of what might happen. He hoped like himself, Hongkongers would not surrender to the authoritarian regime.

Shum was among those 55 pro-democracy figures arrested by the police on Jan 5, 2021 for their involvement in the pro-democracy camp's primary elections in July 2020.

2 days ago, on Feb 26, they had been ordered by the police to report to the police station on Sunday, Feb 28 ahead of the scheduled date in April. Many suspected that detention and charges would be made.

The Hong Kong Police announced on Jan 28, 2021 that 47 people are charged with "conspiracy to subvert state powers" under the #NationalSecurityLaw.

The large group of pro-democracy politicians and activists include district councilor Lester Shum (see photos); 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung and Jimmy Sham of Social Democrats; activist Ventus Lau.

The police said they would detain them overnight and the case will be mentioned in the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court the next day on March 1, 2021.

#MassArrest #Regime #Authoritarianism #PoliceState #PoliticalPersecution

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Read more:
Pro-Democracy Activists in Hong Kong Face #PoliticalPersecution

https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/28795

#PoliticalOppression #MassArrest
Arrested Pro-Democracy Figures tell Hongkongers: "Hang in there", "Be a Human, be yourself"

On Sunday, Feb 28, 2021, in Hong Kong, Tsuen Wan district councillor #RoyTam Hoi-pong of Neo-democrat and former lawmaker #WanSiuKin of Democractic Party reported to the Tsuen Wan Police Station in the afternoon, as instructed by the Hong Kong Police 2 days ago.

They are among the 55 pro-democracy activists who were arrested on Jan 5, 2021 on suspicion of "subverting state powers" and violating the #NationalSecurityLaw.

As the group was ordered to report to the police over 1 month ahead of the scheduled date, many had prepared for the worst. It was proven to be the case, as on the afternoon of Feb 28, the Hong Kong police announced charging 47 pro-democracy figures with "conspiracy to subverting state powers", and that they would be detained overnight before sending them to court the next day.

Before walking into the Tsuen Wan Police Station to face whatever plans the authorities have for them, Roy Tam, who came hand in hand with his wife, hugged his friends and families. He told the media that he would "face it with a calm spirit". Tam raised his fists high and said, "Hongkongers, hang in there!"

Wan Siu-kin arrived moments later. He said he was not surprised, as arbitrary arrests are nothing new in Hong Kong. A former lawmaker himself, he firmly believed that he did not violate the #NationalSecurityLaw, nor the Hong Kong's Basic Law. He told his friends that he is not afraid and will embrace the challenges. He hopes all the pro-democracy figures arrested would show the same fighting spirit.

Wan added, "To be frank, I don't know what to tell you, if you ask me for methods to resist against the authoritarian regime. But there is one thing you can do: Be a human-being, be yourself."

When asked to comment on Beijing's reported plan to amend Hong Kong's electoral system, Wan said, "I cannot comprehend the logic of the authoritarian regime, and do not want to."

Wan emphasized that the crux of the problem is the erosion of the social, economic, and political structure of the city. He concluded that the "#OneCountryTwoSystems" policy should be genuinely practiced, but "not by way of any twisted interpretation".

Source: InMedia #Feb28

#PoliceState #Authoritarianism

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Read more:

Hong Kong Pro-democracy Activist #LesterShum: We've Decided to Not Surrender to the Authoritarian Regime and We'll Continue with this Road

https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/28804

#PoliticalOppression
Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit: Hope the world knows HongKongers are the glory of Hong Kong

Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit said he once understood the differences between abiding and breaking the law. However, the world has inverted black and white. Even under the authorities' suppression, he still believes that the Hong Kong government cannot detain all freedom fighters. Also, he always believes Hongkongers who had participated in the 2 million march persisted in their belief. He described, "Today is to temper our willpower." He hopes the world can see it and "Hongkongers are the glory of Hong Kong."

Jimmy Sham also apologised to Helena Wong Pik-wan, stating he feels sorry for The Democratic Party, and they hugged each other outside the police station.

Source: InMedia HK #Feb28
#MassArrest #Regime #Authoritarianism #PoliceState #PoliticalPersecution #JimmySham