Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PoliticalSuppression #Court
“I Plead Guilty, But I Have Done No Wrong”: Former Democratic Party Chairman in Hong Kong on Protest Charges
73-year-old Yeung Sum, former chairman of Hong Kong's Democratic Party, was among the few who plead guilty to participating in an unauthorized protest in the city on August 31, 2019.
The trial began on April 7, 2021 in the District Court in Hong Kong. Below are snippets from Yeung’s guilty plea:
“Your Honor, I plead guilty to the charges related to participating in an unauthorized assembly on Aug 31, 2019, but I have done no wrong, and I will not plead for mercy. The following is my submission."
“I plead guilty to participating in an unauthorized and illegal demonstration, but I will not admit that I did anything wrong.
Although the police did not issue a letter of no objection for the march, I still came forward to participate in the march because I want to uphold the fact that demonstration is a fundamental right of every Hong Kong citizen and should be constitutionally protected.
It was also to protest against the police’s abuse of power, who arbitrarily banned peaceful demonstrations and marches and deprived Hong Kong people of their civil rights.
Therefore, I am willing to put myself on the line and engage in civil disobedience in a peaceful manner, and I am prepared to accept the criminal liability of the law.”
For the full version in Chinese: https://bit.ly/3cUam0Y
Source: Stand News #April7
https://bit.ly/3cW1CaR
#PoliticalPrisoners #YeungSum #CivilDisobedience #AntiELAB #HongKongProtests
“I Plead Guilty, But I Have Done No Wrong”: Former Democratic Party Chairman in Hong Kong on Protest Charges
73-year-old Yeung Sum, former chairman of Hong Kong's Democratic Party, was among the few who plead guilty to participating in an unauthorized protest in the city on August 31, 2019.
The trial began on April 7, 2021 in the District Court in Hong Kong. Below are snippets from Yeung’s guilty plea:
“Your Honor, I plead guilty to the charges related to participating in an unauthorized assembly on Aug 31, 2019, but I have done no wrong, and I will not plead for mercy. The following is my submission."
“I plead guilty to participating in an unauthorized and illegal demonstration, but I will not admit that I did anything wrong.
Although the police did not issue a letter of no objection for the march, I still came forward to participate in the march because I want to uphold the fact that demonstration is a fundamental right of every Hong Kong citizen and should be constitutionally protected.
It was also to protest against the police’s abuse of power, who arbitrarily banned peaceful demonstrations and marches and deprived Hong Kong people of their civil rights.
Therefore, I am willing to put myself on the line and engage in civil disobedience in a peaceful manner, and I am prepared to accept the criminal liability of the law.”
For the full version in Chinese: https://bit.ly/3cUam0Y
Source: Stand News #April7
https://bit.ly/3cW1CaR
#PoliticalPrisoners #YeungSum #CivilDisobedience #AntiELAB #HongKongProtests
立場新聞 Stand News
【8.31 遊行】楊森求情：公民抗命願受刑責 泛民不做忠誠反對派 港人勿放棄 | 全文轉載 | 立場新聞
編按：民主黨前主席楊森、壹傳媒創辦人黎智英及工黨副主席李卓人，被指於前年 8 月 31 日於港島參與「未經批准...
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#FailedState
HK Government suspected of un-shelving another 16 books involving topics of #CivilDisobedience and #Protests in #PublicLibrary
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (#LCSD) of the Hong Kong Government is suspected of un-shelving 16 books from public libraries.
These include:
- The writings of pro-democracy activist and former law professor Benny Tai;
- Reverend Chu Yiu-ming's “Civil Disobedience and the Occupation of Central: Reflections on the Faith of Christians in Hong Kong” (公民抗命與佔領中環：香港基督徒的信仰省思);
- “To All of Those Who Have Worn Black Before” (給穿過黑衣的人) by Scholarism;
- Former legislator Raymond Wong Yuk-man’s book “I Wouldn’t Have Argued If I Did’t Have To” (予豈好辯哉).
In addition, the two issues of “#Breakazine!” about the Anti-Extradition Law (#AntiELAB) Protest, are also removed.
These 16 books were all published before the #NationalSecurityLaw came into effect, yet they are no longer available on the public library website.
So far, the government has removed at least 34 books in total.
Source: Apply Daily #May29
https://bit.ly/2R20IRR
#NSL #Censorship #BannedBooks #Regime #DissentLiterature
HK Government suspected of un-shelving another 16 books involving topics of #CivilDisobedience and #Protests in #PublicLibrary
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (#LCSD) of the Hong Kong Government is suspected of un-shelving 16 books from public libraries.
These include:
- The writings of pro-democracy activist and former law professor Benny Tai;
- Reverend Chu Yiu-ming's “Civil Disobedience and the Occupation of Central: Reflections on the Faith of Christians in Hong Kong” (公民抗命與佔領中環：香港基督徒的信仰省思);
- “To All of Those Who Have Worn Black Before” (給穿過黑衣的人) by Scholarism;
- Former legislator Raymond Wong Yuk-man’s book “I Wouldn’t Have Argued If I Did’t Have To” (予豈好辯哉).
In addition, the two issues of “#Breakazine!” about the Anti-Extradition Law (#AntiELAB) Protest, are also removed.
These 16 books were all published before the #NationalSecurityLaw came into effect, yet they are no longer available on the public library website.
So far, the government has removed at least 34 books in total.
Source: Apply Daily #May29
https://bit.ly/2R20IRR
#NSL #Censorship #BannedBooks #Regime #DissentLiterature
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Court
No Regrets to Civil Disobedience after "Watching my Fears Become Reality": #FigoChan and 7 Pro-Dem Leaders Plead Guilty to Unlawful Assembly
Figo Chan, former convenor of Civil Human Rights Front (#CHRF), pleaded guilty to participating and organizing an unlawful assembly on July 1, 2020, the day on which the National Security Law took effect.
Also charged were 7 other pro-democracy leaders, including former legislators Leung Kwok-hung (#LongHair), Wu Chi-wai, and Eddie Chu.
Their case was heard in court on October 7, 2021. Among the eight being charged, seven of them pleaded guilty to the charges, in obedience of the principles of civil disobedience.
In his petition to the court, Chan said that after watching videos of that day's protests, he felt that Hong Kong had become unfamiliar since that day.
"[Hong Kong] only permits voices that support the government, and continually suppresses those who do not," he said. "As a result, numerous political parties and civic organizations disband one after another, Hongkongers have left the city in droves, and freedom and rights due to citizens are gradually disappearing."
"Looking back and watching my fears become reality, how could I regret speaking up through peaceful civil disobedience and protest?"
"May Hongkongers keep hope in our hearts", he added. "Let's hang on to each other and get through these difficult times."
Source: Stand News #Oct7
https://bit.ly/3uQwy3m
#CivilDisobedience #NationalSecurityLaw #July1March #Solidarity
No Regrets to Civil Disobedience after "Watching my Fears Become Reality": #FigoChan and 7 Pro-Dem Leaders Plead Guilty to Unlawful Assembly
Figo Chan, former convenor of Civil Human Rights Front (#CHRF), pleaded guilty to participating and organizing an unlawful assembly on July 1, 2020, the day on which the National Security Law took effect.
Also charged were 7 other pro-democracy leaders, including former legislators Leung Kwok-hung (#LongHair), Wu Chi-wai, and Eddie Chu.
Their case was heard in court on October 7, 2021. Among the eight being charged, seven of them pleaded guilty to the charges, in obedience of the principles of civil disobedience.
In his petition to the court, Chan said that after watching videos of that day's protests, he felt that Hong Kong had become unfamiliar since that day.
"[Hong Kong] only permits voices that support the government, and continually suppresses those who do not," he said. "As a result, numerous political parties and civic organizations disband one after another, Hongkongers have left the city in droves, and freedom and rights due to citizens are gradually disappearing."
"Looking back and watching my fears become reality, how could I regret speaking up through peaceful civil disobedience and protest?"
"May Hongkongers keep hope in our hearts", he added. "Let's hang on to each other and get through these difficult times."
Source: Stand News #Oct7
https://bit.ly/3uQwy3m
#CivilDisobedience #NationalSecurityLaw #July1March #Solidarity