2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists

Last updated

2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists
20170820 March in support of jailed Hong Kong activists 2.jpg
Supporters of the jailed activists marching on 20 August 2017
Date17 August 2017 (2017-08-17)
Location Hong Kong
TypeImprisonment
Cause3 on roles in storming the Civic Square, [1] 13 on roles against the planned North East New Territories new town
Participants Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow
OutcomeApplauded by the pro-Beijing camp but decried by pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong
Convicted16
VerdictGuilty [1]
ConvictionsChow: Taking part in an unlawful assembly
Law: Inciting others to take part in an unlawful assembly
Wong: Taking part in an unlawful assembly [1]
Sentence6 (Wong), 7 (Chow), 8 (Law) months in prison and 8 (1 person), 13 (12 people) months in prison

On 17 August 2017, three Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, Alex Chow, Nathan Law and Joshua Wong, were given prison sentences by the Court of Appeal for their roles in a protest at the Civic Square in front of the Central Government Complex in Tamar, Admiralty, on 26 and 27 September 2014. [1] The events at the Civic Square helped set off massive pro-democracy protests, sometimes referred to as the Umbrella Movement, which lasted until police cleared the last of the protest sites in December 2014.

Contents

The three had originally been convicted and ordered to perform community service or, in the case of Chow, given a suspended sentence. The government appealed their sentences and successfully pursued harsher punishments on the grounds that their crime involved a large-scale unlawful assembly with a high risk of violence. [2] The trio's imprisonment was applauded by the pro-Beijing camp but decried by pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong as well as international politicians and human rights advocates, who have called the activists Hong Kong's first prisoners of conscience, and alleged that the sentence is intended to intimidate other would-be activists.

The sentence also disqualifies the three from running for office for five years, quashing their political aspirations in the near future. Wong had previously sought election but was barred due to his age, while Law, democratically elected to the Legislative Council in September 2016, was removed from office in July 2017 following a government challenge.

The three activists were released on 6 February 2018 after a successful appeal against their custodial sentences at the Court of Final Appeal. [3]

Background

Activists

Wong (far right) and other student activists protesting in front of the Civic Square on 23 September 2014 Xiang Gang Xue Min Si Chao Xuan Bu 926Zhong Xue Sheng Ba Ke An Pai (5).jpg
Wong (far right) and other student activists protesting in front of the Civic Square on 23 September 2014

Wong, Law, and Chow have been prominent democracy activists for several years. Joshua Wong, now a student at the Open University of Hong Kong, co-founded Scholarism in 2011. Scholarism gained prominence as one of several civil society organisations that protested against the "Moral and National Education" curriculum, proposed by the Education Bureau. He subsequently participated in the Umbrella Movement and then co-founded a political party, Demosistō, in 2016.

Nathan Law is an undergraduate student at Lingnan University as well as the incumbent chairman of Demosistō. He previously occupied various leadership positions in the Lingnan University Students' Union and served as Secretary General of the Hong Kong Federation of Students. During the 2016 Legislative Council election Law ran under the Demosistō banner in the Hong Kong Island geographical constituency and was elected, becoming the youngest-ever elected legislator in Hong Kong. [4] On 14 July 2017, Law became one of six pro-democracy legislators removed from office due to legal action by the Hong Kong Government regarding their manners during the oath-taking ceremony. [5]

Alex Chow is a University of Hong Kong student, a former vice-president of the Hong Kong University Students' Union, and a former secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students. He was one of the early organisers of the Umbrella Movement.

Political context

The Chief Executive is the head of the Government of Hong Kong. Article 45 of Hong Kong's constitution, the Basic Law, stipulates that the "ultimate aim is the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures". [6] Following the transfer of Hong Kong to China in 1997, the pro-democratic camp pushed for the election of the chief executive in 2007 through universal suffrage. On 26 April 2004, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC), a mainland Chinese legislative body, ruled out the possibility that universal suffrage would be allowed in 2007. [7] In 2007, the NPCSC ruled out the 2012 election of the legislature and chief executive through universal suffrage, but stated that the Legislative Council and the chief executive could be elected through universal suffrage in 2016 and 2017, respectively. [8]

However, democratic aspirations stalled on 31 August 2014, when the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in Beijing made a decision that chief executive candidates in 2017 would be required to "love the country and love Hong Kong"; that all candidates would be screened by a nominating committee of a composition paralleling the existing Election Committee, which is dominated by pro-Beijing interests; and that any chief executive elected through these means would then have to be appointed by the Chinese government. The decision was intensely decried by the pan-democratic camp, who said the arrangement would not amount to genuine democracy. [9]

2014 Civic Square protests

The Civic Square, pictured in 2012 and 2014 CGO East Wing Entry Plaza Compare 2012 vs 2014.jpg
The Civic Square, pictured in 2012 and 2014

The incident which led to the sentencing took place in the forecourt of the East Wing of the Central Government Complex, known more commonly as the Civic Square. The new government headquarters was opened in 2011, and was designed under the concept of "Door Always Open" by architect Rocco Yim to symbolise the pride that Hong Kongers take in "openness and transparency of governance". [10] [11] In keeping with this design concept, the Civic Square was originally open to the public when the new government headquarters was inaugurated in 2011. [10]

The square became a popular site for political demonstrations. In mid-2014, several protests were held there against plans for the development of new towns in the northeastern New Territories. In response, around 16 July 2014 work began on a permanent three-metre high metal fence, closing off the Civic Square from Tim Mei Avenue. The Hong Kong government stated that the barrier was a necessary security measure while others stated that the move ran contrary to Hong Kong people's right to freedom of assembly, which is codified in the Basic Law. The government responded that protests would be allowed in the square on public holidays if the director of the Administration Wing consented in advance. Other areas of the complex were fortified at the same time as the Civic Square. [10]

Concurrently with the fortification of the square, the government's controversial democratic reform proposals, coupled with the 831 decision, were triggering discontent and protests. On 22 September 2014, students launched a week-long class boycott campaign, coupled with demonstrations at the government complex. At around 22:30 on 26 September 2014, protesting students scaled the fence that had been erected in July in an attempt to "retake" the Civic Square. Police managed to regain control of the square, and kettled dozens of protesters on the circular base of the flagpoles, where they were denied access to water and the toilet. [12] At the same time, a large number of protesters amassed outside the Civic Square. The square was cleared by police by the end of the following day, with more than 60 people arrested. [13] Wong, Chow, and Law were among those arrested. Four police officers were injured, one of them suffered a deep wound by an umbrella, and eleven security staff at the government complex were also injured. [12]

The incident immediately helped kick off the 2014 Hong Kong protests, also known as the Umbrella Movement, which saw the motorway in front of the government complex, Harcourt Road, occupied by protesters until 11 December 2014. [14]

Eastern Magistrates' Court, where the trio initially received noncustodial sentences in August 2016 Eastern Law Courts Building edit.jpg
Eastern Magistrates' Court, where the trio initially received noncustodial sentences in August 2016

Initial sentencing

On 21 July 2016, the Eastern Magistrates' Court found Wong and Chow guilty of taking part in an unlawful assembly, while Law was found guilty of inciting others to take part in an unlawful assembly. These were the first criminal convictions for all three. Wong was cleared of a charge of inciting others to take part in an unlawful assembly. [1]

On 15 August 2016, the three were sentenced. Wong was ordered to perform 80 hours of community service, while Law was sentenced to 120 hours. Chow was sentenced to three weeks in prison with a one-year suspension to allow him to continue his education at the London School of Economics as planned. [15]

Immediately following the sentencing, Law said that they respected the decision of the court, and alleged that the Public Order Ordinance was "suppressing [their] freedoms to assemble and protest". [15]

The trio subsequently served these initial sentences.

Appeal and additional sentence

The Department of Justice disagreed with the sentencing. In September 2016 it requested a review of the sentences, arguing that the community service sentence was "clearly not enough" as the three "[did] not feel true remorse". [16]

A review hearing was held on 21 September 2016, where the magistrate stated that the original sentencing and reasoning was sufficient, and that the department had "failed to provide sufficient evidence for the necessity of a tougher sentence". [17] [18] The department had compared the activists to gangsters, which the presiding magistrate, June Cheung, said was unfair as they were expressing their political beliefs. [19] She stated that there were precedents for non-custodial sentences in similar cases, and dismissed the bid to impose harsher sentences on the three. [17]

In October 2016, the Court of Appeal agreed to hear a government appeal against the original sentence. [20]

Law, Wong, and Chow speaking to media and supporters before entering court on 17 August 2017 San Ming Xiang Gang San Yun Xue Sheng Ling Xiu Bei Gai Pan Ji Shi Ru Yu 6Zhi 8Yue 01.jpg
Law, Wong, and Chow speaking to media and supporters before entering court on 17 August 2017

On 17 August 2017, the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions of all three and enhanced their sentences by imposing six and seven-month prison terms on Wong and Chow, respectively, and sentencing Law to eight months in jail, removing the suspension. The judges found that the case involved a large-scale unlawful assembly with a high risk of violence, and the crimes were serious, calling for deterrent custodial sentences. [2]

The sentencing prevented the activists from running for public office in the next five years. Law was previously an elected legislator, while Wong had expressed a desire to seek election in the future, having been unable to run in the 2016 LegCo election for not meeting the minimum age qualification. [21]

Imprisonment

Pik Uk Correctional Institution, a maximum security youth prison where Wong is held Pik Uk Correctional Institution.jpg
Pik Uk Correctional Institution, a maximum security youth prison where Wong is held

Wong was sent to Pik Uk Correctional Institution, a maximum security facility for male prisoners below the age of 21. [22] [23]

Law and Chow were being held at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre pending their transfer to prison. [22] On 22 August 2017, Law was moved to the medium-security Tong Fuk Correctional Institution on Ma Po Ping Road on Lantau Island, while Chow was moved to the low-security Pik Uk Prison on Clear Water Bay Road, near Sai Kung, to serve their sentences. [24]

Reactions

Domestic

The sentence received mixed reactions in Hong Kong. Political figures from the pro-democratic camp and civil rights activists criticised the sentence for being disproportionately long, the Secretary for Justice for appealing the sentence, and the sitting judges for not considering the act committed by Wong, Law and Chow as civil disobedience that would result in a mitigated sentence. On the contrary, pro-establishment politicians welcomed the sentence. The legal profession has also responded to allegations by the media that the Hong Kong judiciary had been influenced or controlled by the Chinese Communist Party through the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong, stating that there is no indication of such influence. [25]

Upon the sentencing, Joshua Wong wrote in a series of tweets that the sentence will not halt the activism for universal suffrage and democracy, or "win the hearts and minds of Hong Kongers". [26] [27] Other pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong also criticised the court decision. Academic Benny Tai at The University of Hong Kong, who also faces prosecution for his role in the 2014 protests, stated that civil disobedience to "challenge the law or acts of injustice by the government" is a necessary part of a civilised society. [28]

There was also criticism against sentence appeal made by the Secretary of Justice. Lawyer Wilson Leung expressed on behalf of the Progressive Lawyers Group that "we strongly disagree with the government treating political problems as ‘law and order’ problems and focusing on the prosecution of protestors." [29] Former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association and Civic Party politician Alan Leong commented that the appeal was "certainly politically motivated". [30] Another former Bar Association chairman Paul Shieh noted however that there is insufficient evidence suggesting that political considerations were involved. Shieh also called on the Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen to explain the reasons behind the appeal so as to increase the transparency of the decision to appeal. [30] [31]

The League of Social Democrats held a rally against the decision outside the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre on the evening of 18 August 2017. [28] Several different organisations held a public protest march on 20 August 2017, which started at the Southorn Playground and ended with a rally at the Court of Final Appeal Building. [32] [33] Protesters focused their criticism on Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen, following reports that he ignored the advice of top prosecutors in pursuing the appeal. [34] [35]

On the other hand, members of the pro-Beijing camp applauded the prison sentences. Starry Lee, chairwoman of Hong Kong's largest pro-Beijing political party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), said that the three "paid the price" for disobeying the law. DAB vice-chairman Holden Chow called unlawful assembly a "serious crime" and said that a heavy punishment was necessary to deter others. [36] Pro-Beijing activist Robert Chow asked rhetorically: "who worked behind the scenes to poison and brainwash Wong, Law, and Chow, along with thousands of young people, to make them delight in seeing the country and Hong Kong as enemies, in having made Hongkongers suffer for the last three years?" [37]

Mainland China

An editorial in the Chinese state newspaper Global Times stated, "This sentence will be a milestone in Hong Kong's governance. From now on people who protest violently can be given a guilty sentence following this precedent, and they will need to go to jail". [35]

Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated:

No one shall engage in illegal and violent activities under the pretext of "democracy" or "freedom". The court of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region made the judgment of the relevant case on the basis of facts and in accordance with Hong Kong's law. I would like to reaffirm that Hong Kong is a Special Administration Region of China and Hong Kong's affairs belong to China's internal affairs. The Chinese side firmly opposes any external forces' interference in the affairs and judicial independence of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region. [38]

International

Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, whose office released a statement expressing Taiwan's "deep regret" over the jail sentences Tai Wan Min Jin Dang Zong Tong Hou Xuan Ren Cai Ying Wen .jpg
Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, whose office released a statement expressing Taiwan's "deep regret" over the jail sentences

The Taiwanese government expressed its "deep regret" over the jail sentences, and reiterated Taiwan's "long-standing stance to support Hong Kong people to pursue democracy, freedom, the rule of law and human rights". [39] [40] The Democratic Progressive Party stated that "graver suppression will only spark more resistance", while a government spokesman stated that "Hong Kong authorities should take seriously the fact that Hong Kong people want to be able to choose their own way of life and political regime." [39] [40]

Nancy Pelosi, leader of the United States Democratic Party in the U.S. House of Representatives, called the ruling an injustice that should "shock the conscience of the world". She described the prison sentence as an "egregious decision", and that the resulting disqualification of Wong, Law and Chow to run for public office was unjust. She also regarded the sentence to be against "the basic notions of freedom and democracy". [41]

A group of 25 international figures released a joint statement describing the imprisonment as "outrageously unjust". The signatories called the Umbrella Movement "one of the most peaceful and restrained movements of public protest the world has ever seen" and wrote that the sentencing amounted to "an outrageous miscarriage of justice, a death knell for Hong Kong’s rule of law and basic human rights, and a severe blow to the principles of 'One Country, Two Systems'". The statement was signed by eminent politicians, human rights activists, and ex-political prisoners including David Alton, Paddy Ashdown, Sonja Biserko, Charles Maung Bo, Fiona Bruce, John Dayal, Andrew Khoo, David Kilgour, John McCarthy, Mohamed Nasheed, Geoffrey Nice, Consiglio Di Nino, Grover Rees III, Malcolm Rifkind, Janelle Saffin, Charles Santiago, Chris Smith, Charles Tannock, Alissa Wahid, and Zarganar. [27] The group also questioned whether punishing the activists twice (as Wong, Law, and Chow had already served their initial community service orders) contraveneds provisions against double jeopardy in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. [42]

In September 2017, Hong Kong slipped five places in the judicial independence category of the latest global competitiveness ranking compiled by the Geneva-based non-profit organisation World Economic Forum. [43]

Academics

Eric Cheung, a faculty member at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law, questioned why the Court of Appeal decision described the defendants' actions as "seriously violent" while earlier the Eastern Magistracy had cleared the trio of committing any acts of violence. He stated that there did not seem to be any evidence presented that the three committed violence, and questioned whether the Court of Appeal had effected a "substantial and grave injustice". He said there were grounds for the three to appeal the ruling to the Court of Final Appeal, Hong Kong's court of last resort. [44]

Human rights organisations

Various human rights organisations also spoke against the sentencing. A spokesperson for Human Rights Watch stated that the effort to put the trio in jail was "not about public order, but is instead a craven political move to keep the trio out of the Legislative Council, as well as deter future protests." [45] Similarly, Mabel Au, a spokeswoman for Amnesty International Hong Kong, commented, "the relentless and vindictive pursuit of student leaders using vague charges smacks of political payback by the authorities." [46] [26]

Maya Wang, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, stated: "This is a watershed moment for Hong Kong. It now has political prisoners ... For anyone thinking of protesting, the prospect of a harsh jail sentence will now loom over them." [47]

Other jailings

This article focuses on the three most well-known activists to be jailed in 2017. The high-profile imprisonment of Wong, Law, and Chow spurred some Hong Kong media outlets to compile lists of all individuals who have been imprisoned for allegedly political reasons. On 15 August 2017, 13 protesters who stormed the Legislative Council building in June 2014 (during a protest against the planned North East New Territories new towns) were handed prison sentences of eight to 13 months after a similar push by the Department of Justice for more severe sentences than the community service orders originally imposed. [14] [29] [32]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leung Kwok-hung</span> Hong Kong activist and politician

Leung Kwok-hung, also known by his nickname "Long Hair" (長毛), is a Hong Kong politician and social activist. He was a member of the Legislative Council, representing the New Territories East. A Trotskyist in his youth, he was a founding member of the Revolutionary Marxist League. He became a political icon with his long hair and Che Guevara T-shirt in the protests before he was elected to the Legislative Council in 2004. In 2006, he co-founded a social democratic party, the League of Social Democrats (LSD) of which he was the chairman from 2012 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China</span> Hong Kong pro-democracy organisation

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China was a pro-democracy organisation that was established on 21 May 1989 in the then British colony of Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre in Beijing. After the 4 June massacre, the organisation main goals were the rehabilitation of the democracy movement and the accountability for the massacre. The main activities the organisation held were the annual memorials and commemorations, of which the candlelight vigil in Victoria Park was the most attended, reported and discussed event each year. Due to its stance, the Central government in Beijing considers the organisation subversive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rimsky Yuen</span> Hong Kong barrister

Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung is a barrister who served as the third Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong from 2012 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scholarism</span> Hong Kong pro-democracy student activist group

Scholarism was a Hong Kong pro-democracy student activist group active in the fields of Hong Kong's education policy, political reform and youth policy. It was reported to have 200 members in May 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshua Wong</span> Hong Kong pro-democracy activist

Joshua Wong Chi-fung is a Hong Kong activist and politician. He served as secretary-general of the pro-democracy party Demosisto until it disbanded following the implementation of the Hong Kong national security law on 30 June 2020. Wong was previously convenor and founder of the Hong Kong student activist group Scholarism. Wong first rose to international prominence during the 2014 Hong Kong protests, and his pivotal role in the Umbrella Movement resulted in his inclusion in TIME magazine's Most Influential Teens of 2014 and nomination for its 2014 Person of the Year; he was further called one of the "world's greatest leaders" by Fortune magazine in 2015, and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Hong Kong class boycott campaign</span>

The 2014 Hong Kong class boycott campaign, also known as 922 Class Boycott and 926 Class Boycott, is a student strike protesting the PRC Standing Committee of the National People's Congress's restriction on nomination system of the election of the Chief Executive in the 2016 and 2017 Hong Kong Political Reform. The campaign, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholarism, was participated in by university students from 22 to 26 September and later also by secondary school students on 26 September. The student movement evolved into the 2014 Hong Kong protests in which several regions across the Victoria Harbour were occupied by pro-democracy protesters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Hong Kong protests</span> Series of sit-in street protests

A series of sit-in street protests, often called the Umbrella Revolution and sometimes used interchangeably with Umbrella Movement, or Occupy Movement, occurred in Hong Kong from 26 September to 15 December 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umbrella Movement</span> 2014 Hong Kong political movement

The Umbrella Movement was a political movement that emerged during the 2014 Hong Kong protests. Its name arose from the use of umbrellas as a tool for passive resistance to the Hong Kong Police's use of pepper spray to disperse the crowd during a 79-day occupation of the city demanding more transparent elections, which was sparked by the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China (NPCSC) of 31 August 2014 that prescribed a selective pre-screening of candidates for the 2017 election of Hong Kong's chief executive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Chow</span> Hong Kong student activist

Alex Chow Yong-kang is a social activist from Hong Kong and current doctoral candidate in geography at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a former secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students and a former Vice-President (External) of the Hong Kong University Students' Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lester Shum</span> Hong Kong activist and politician

Lester Shum Ngo-fai is a Hong Kong social activist and politician. He was a leader of the 2014 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and served as deputy secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) from April 2014 to March 2015. He was a member of the Tsuen Wan District Council for Hoi Bun from 2020 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demosisto</span> Hong Kong political party

Demosisto was a pro-democracy political organisation established on 10 April 2016 as a political party. It was led by Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow – former leaders of Scholarism, along with Nathan Law, former secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS). Scholarism and the HKFS were the two student activist groups which played an instrumental role in the 79-day occupy protests known as the Umbrella Revolution in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Law</span> Hong Kong politician and activist

Nathan Law Kwun-chung is a mainland-Chinese-born activist and politician from Hong Kong. As a former student leader, he has been chairman of the Representative Council of the Lingnan University Students' Union (LUSU), acting president of the LUSU, and secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS). He was one of the student leaders during the 79-day Umbrella Movement in 2014. He is the founding and former chairman of Demosistō, a new political party derived from the 2014 protests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beating of Ken Tsang</span> Hong Kong police brutality case

On 15 October 2014, pro-democracy activist Ken Tsang was beaten by Hong Kong Police officers in Tamar Park, Admiralty, after being arrested in a police clearance operation during the 2014 Hong Kong protests. Though not the only reported instance of police brutality during the protests, the assault gained notoriety as it was filmed from a distance by a Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) news crew and broadcast to Hong Kong audiences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agnes Chow</span> Hong Kong politician and social activist (born 1996)

Agnes Chow Ting is a Hong Kong politician and social activist. She is a former member of the Standing Committee of Demosisto and former spokesperson of Scholarism. Her candidacy for the 2018 Hong Kong Island by-election, supported by the pro-democracy camp, was blocked by authorities, due to her party's advocacy of self-determination and independence for Hong Kong. She was arrested in August 2019, during the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, for her role in a protest at police headquarters two months earlier, and sentenced to 10 months in jail in December 2020. She was again arrested for the National Security charge of 'collusion with foreign forces' in August 2020, albeit released on bail the day after. After her early release in June 2021, she made no public announcements until December 2023, when she wrote on social media that she had already moved to Canada in September that year to study for a master's degree at a university in Toronto, and decided to go into exile.

Events in the year 2018 in Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunny Cheung</span> Hong Kong activist and politician

Sunny Cheung Kwan-yang is a Hong Kong activist and politician. He is the former spokesman for the Hong Kong Higher Institutions International Affairs Delegation (HKIAD) as the representative of the students union council of the University of Hong Kong. He participated in the Umbrella Revolution of 2014 and the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests. His lobbying efforts in the United States and various countries helped to promote the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, along with sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32nd anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre</span>

The 32nd anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests featured events in China and elsewhere on, and leading up to, 4 June 2021 – to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, in which the government of China ordered the army to fire on protestors, killing hundreds, if not thousands, of people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of reactions to the 2020 Hong Kong national security law (January 2021)</span> December events of the 2019-2020 pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong

A dramatic manifestation of the far reach of the Hong Kong national security law was the mass arrest of 54 pro-democracy activists on 6 January. The arrested stood accused of subverting state power, a crime under the national security law, for their participation as candidates or in other capacities, in the 2020 Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries, which was part of a plan to increase pressure in parliament for democratic reform. Most of them were released on bail the following day. For the first time, the National Security Department of the police cited the national security law to block the website of HKChronicles. There were also several convictions in relation to the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of reactions to the 2020 Hong Kong national security law (April 2021)</span>

The city held its first National Security Education Day after the national security law had come into force. Chief Executive Carrie Lam emphasized that the law had helped Hong Kong to emerge from the "dark violence" of the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests. National Security Committee Adviser Luo Huining also gave a speech. Even very young children were photographed handling toy weapons, which drew criticism.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Cheng, Kris (21 July 2016). "Hong Kong Occupy activists including Joshua Wong guilty of unlawful assembly". Hong Kong Free Press.
  2. 1 2 Siu, Jasmine (17 August 2017). "Joshua Wong and other jailed Hong Kong student leaders see political careers halted". South China Morning Post.
  3. ↑ Cheung, Karen (6 February 2018). "Hong Kong democracy activists Joshua Wong, Alex Chow, Nathan Law free to go after Occupy sentence appeal". Hong Kong Free Press.
  4. ↑ Gupta, Priyanka (6 September 2016). "Q&A with Hong Kong's youngest legislator Nathan Law". Al Jazeera.
  5. ↑ Lui, Kevin (14 July 2017). "Four More Hong Kong Lawmakers Ousted In a Blow to Democratic Hopes". Time .
  6. ↑ "Chapter IV : Political Structure". Basic Law Full Text. Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  7. ↑ Cheung, Gary; Cheung, Jimmy (27 April 2004). "Beijing's last word on elections in 2007 and 2008". South China Morning Post.
  8. ↑ "Beijing delivers its suffrage draft". South China Morning Post. 27 December 2007.
  9. ↑ "Hong Kong democracy protesters enter government complex". BBC. 27 September 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 Cheung, Chi-fai; Lam, Jeffie (17 July 2014). "Popular protest spot Civic Square closed for security works, public access limited". South China Morning Post.
  11. ↑ "HKSAR Government Headquarters / Rocco Design Architects". ArchDaily. 28 February 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Occupy Central won't start early, says Benny Tai, after student clashes with police leave dozens injured". South China Morning Post. 26 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "Hong Kong police clear pro-democracy protesters". BBC. 27 September 2014.
  14. 1 2 Wong, Alan (17 August 2017). "Joshua Wong and 2 Others Jailed in Hong Kong Over Pro-Democracy Protest". The New York Times.
  15. 1 2 Yuen, Chantal (15 August 2016). "Hong Kong Occupy activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 80 hours community service". Hong Kong Free Press.
  16. ↑ Yuen, Chantal (15 September 2016). "Department of Justice seeks immediate jail terms for Occupy activists". Hong Kong Free Press.
  17. 1 2 Fitzpatrick, Liam (21 September 2016). "Hong Kong Authorities Fail to Have Tougher Sentences Imposed on Democracy Activists". Time.
  18. ↑ Ng, Ellie (21 September 2016). "Gov't loses challenge to unlawful assembly sentences against Occupy activists Nathan Law, Joshua Wong, Alex Chow". Hong Kong Free Press.
  19. ↑ "DOJ loses appeal for jailing of Occupy student leaders". Hong Kong Economic Journal. 22 September 2016.
  20. ↑ Yuen, Chantal (14 October 2016). "Court of appeal will hear gov't appeal against Occupy activists' sentences". Hong Kong Free Press.
  21. ↑ Wu, Venus (16 August 2017). "Young Hong Kong democrats face jail amid fears of broader crackdown". Reuters.
  22. 1 2 Ho, Maggie (18 August 2017). "Jailed Joshua Wong 'in good spirits', say friends". Radio Television Hong Kong.
  23. ↑ "Pik Uk Correctional Institution". Correctional Services Department. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  24. ↑ Lo, Clifford (22 August 2017). "Two student activists jailed along with Joshua Wong in Hong Kong moved to separate prisons". South China Morning Post . Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  25. ↑ Hong Kong Bar Association; The Law Society of Hong Kong (18 August 2017). "Joint Statement of The Hong Kong Bar Association and The Law Society of Hong Kong in Response to Criticisms of Judicial Independence in Hong Kong" (PDF) (Press release). Hong Kong: Hong Kong Bar Association. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  26. 1 2 Wu, Venus; Pomfret, James (17 August 2017). "Critics cry foul as Joshua Wong and other young Hong Kong democracy leaders get jail". Reuters.
  27. 1 2 Pang, Jun (18 August 2017). "'A death knell for rule of law and human rights': 20 Int'l figures condemn jailing of Hong Kong democracy activists". Hong Kong Free Press.
  28. 1 2 Cheung, Karen (18 August 2017). "Occupy leader Benny Tai slams jailing of student activists, as pro-democracy party plans protests this weekend". Hong Kong Free Press.
  29. 1 2 Steger, Isabella (17 August 2017). "Hong Kong's government finally managed to put democracy fighter Joshua Wong behind bars". Quartz.
  30. 1 2 "律政司覆核刑期 大律師公會兩前主席激辯 石永泰：應交代決定過程 梁家傑：袁有政治動機" [Sentence Appeal by the Department of Justice. Ex-chairmen of the Bar Association in Intense Debate. Paul Shieh: The decision-making process should be accounted for. Alan Leong: Yuen was politically-motivated.]. Ming Pao (in Traditional Chinese). Hong Kong. 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  31. ↑ Chung, Kimmy (22 August 2017). "Ex-Bar Association head wants Hong Kong justice chief to clear the air on jailing of activist trio". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong.
  32. 1 2 "Lester Shum calls on public to join protest march". Radio Television Hong Kong. 19 August 2017.
  33. ↑ "In Pictures: 'Give back hope' – Thousands join protest after Hong Kong jails pro-democracy figures". Hong Kong Free Press. Agence France-Presse. 20 August 2017.
  34. ↑ Ng, Kang-chung (20 August 2017). "Thousands decry jailing of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists in 'biggest rally since Occupy'". South China Morning Post.
  35. 1 2 Pomfret, James; Wu, Venus (18 August 2017). "Hong Kong legal chief denies political motive in jailings as criticism mounts". Reuters.
  36. ↑ "Pro-establishment camp welcomes prison terms". Radio Television Hong Kong. 17 August 2017.
  37. ↑ Pang, Jun (18 August 2017). "Joshua Wong and democracy activists 'paid the legal price,' says pro-Beijing lawmaker Starry Lee". Hong Kong Free Press.
  38. ↑ "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on August 18, 2017". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People's Republic of China. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  39. 1 2 "Taiwan regrets Hong Kong democracy activists being sent to prison". Central News Agency. 17 August 2017.
  40. 1 2 "Taiwan expresses 'deep regret' over jailing of Hong Kong democracy activists". Hong Kong Free Press. Agence France-Presse. 18 August 2017.
  41. ↑ Cheung, Karen (18 August 2017). "US Democratic leader says Occupy activists' sentencing should 'shock the conscience of the world'". Hong Kong Free Press.
  42. ↑ "A letter to China: Hong Kong's democrats should be honoured". The Guardian. 18 August 2017.
  43. ↑ "Justice chief defends Hong Kong courts after judicial independence ranking falls for third consecutive year". South China Morning Post. 28 September 2017.
  44. ↑ "Grave injustice to the defendants, says academic". Radio Television Hong Kong. 18 August 2017.
  45. ↑ "Hong Kong sentences prominent democracy activists to prison". Deutsche Welle. 17 August 2017.
  46. ↑ Awai, Yasuo (18 August 2017). "Human rights groups rip jail terms for Hong Kong activists". Nikkei Asian Review .
  47. ↑ Rauhala, Emily (17 August 2017). "Hong Kong student leaders jailed for 2014 pro-democracy protest". Washington Post.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.