Dozens of leading Hong Kong democrats charged with subversion in major national security crackdown

By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret

 

Pro-democracy activist Sam Cheung hugs his wife as he arrives to report to the police station over national security law charges, in Hong Kong, China February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Jessie Pang

 

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Forty-seven Hong Kong democrats and activists were charged on Sunday with conspiracy to commit subversion, in the largest single crackdown on the democratic opposition under a China-imposed national security law.

 

Sam Cheung, a young activist and a participant in an unofficial primary election last summer, was charged after reporting to a local police station, dressed in a black mask and accompanied by his wife.

 

"Hong Kongers have a really tough time these days," he told reporters before entering the station. "I hope everyone won't give up on Hong Kong ... (and) fight on."

 

Cheung was arrested in a dawn raid along with more than 50 other democrats on Jan. 6 in the largest national security operation since the law's passage last June.

 

They were accused of organising and participating in an unofficial "primary election" last July aimed at selecting the strongest candidates for a legislative council election.

 

The Hong Kong police said in a statement they had laid a charge against 47 persons with the single count. They will appear in court tomorrow morning, the statement added.

 

The democrats were detained at the time, questioned, and some had their mobile phones and computers confiscated, then released pending further investigations.

 

Forty-seven Hong Kong democrats and activists were charged on Sunday with conspiracy to commit subversion, in the largest single crackdown on the democratic opposition under a China-imposed national security law. Emer McCarthy reports.

 

"My chance of bail won't be too great," wrote Benny Tai in an earlier social media post. He was also charged and accused by Chinese authorities of being a key tactician for the pro-democracy movement in the former British colony.

 

Those also called in by Hong Kong police include a group of younger "resistance camp" democratic activists including Lester Shum, Sam Cheung, Ventus Lau and Fergus Leung.

 

The democrats denounced the arrests as political persecution for the informal, peaceful poll that drew 600,000 votes in a city of 7.5 million.

 

A rights advocacy group, "Power for Democracy", that co-organised the primary elections, said in a Facebook post it had disbanded.

 

The Hong Kong police say 99 individuals have been arrested for suspected violations of the security laws so far.

 

Some of these have been denied bail, including media mogul and prominent China critic Jimmy Lai, despite protracted legal appeals.

 

The sweeping national security laws - seen by critics as a threat to Hong Kong's freedoms and autonomy - punish acts of subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorism with possible life imprisonment.

 

(Reporting by James Pomfret and Jessie Pang in Hong Kong; Editing by Daniel Wallis and William Mallard)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-01

 

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My guess is all these so-called democrats believe their voting system will be better for Hong Kong.

I doubt it.

Communists can't stand opposition!

6 hours ago, olfu said:

My guess is all these so-called democrats believe their voting system will be better for Hong Kong.

I doubt it.

I am not clear why you use the term 'so-called' before democrats?  They are Democrats in the way they believe in a democratic voting system is the best thing for their society.  They even held a Primary, as is done in USA, to discover who would be their best candidate for the upcoming official Legislative elections.

The act of holding the Primary has been considered by the Authorities to be subversive and a contravention of the recently enacted National Security Law imposed upon HK.

Good move. Westerners will complain whatever the HK or Chinese do. The media have been instructed to aggressively disseminate anti-China news and they do it with relish. No country would tolerate the meddling that the West do in China. China needs to show the West that they will not allow their sovereignty to be meddled with.  They should make an example of these 47.

 

People tend to forget that when HK was "British", it was not democratic. It had an appointed governor, appointed by London. It was only 25 years ago. Also there is nothing in the current agreement signed by the Chris Patten when he left about HK becoming a democracy. 

 

I tend to think that governing 1.5 billion people is a bit different than running a tin-pot country of 60 odd million. If you value stability and safety, unfortunately you have to lose a little personal freedom, just as Brit and Yanks lost many freedoms after 9/11 without a peep from the sheeple. 

6 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

People tend to forget that when HK was "British", it was not democratic

...and people were much happier, much safer and more prosperous...even though there was no democracy.......Winnie the Pooh has destroyed their lives....HK is finished......One country...one system.

hoping Biden can resist another "different cultural norms" statement to excuse and provide cover for the brutal communist state

This should shed light on China’s expansionist ambitions.  Thailand, are you watching and listening?

16 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

Good move. Westerners will complain whatever the HK or Chinese do.  

I hope you are learning to speak Mandarin!

Covid is not the most dangerous virus that comes out from China. their evil expansionist communist polices are. 

14 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

This should shed light on China’s expansionist ambitions.  Thailand, are you watching and listening?

no and no 

2 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Covid is not the most dangerous virus that comes out from China. their evil expansionist communist polices are. 

Killing 2.5 million running dog westerners with their filthy virus has strengthened their position! They definitely need clipping!

1 minute ago, PatOngo said:

Killing 2.5 million running dog westerners with their filthy virus has strengthened their position! They definitely need clipping!

yes, covid is certainly helping them to grow and consolidate their strengthening position in the world, more  than any other Nation.  Funny that isn't it? 

1 minute ago, Pilotman said:

yes, covid is certainly helping them to grow and consolidate their strengthening position in the world, more  than any other Nation.  Funny that isn't it? 

I think it's just plain dangerous.

3 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Good move. Westerners will complain whatever the HK or Chinese do. The media have been instructed to aggressively disseminate anti-China news and they do it with relish. No country would tolerate the meddling that the West do in China. China needs to show the West that they will not allow their sovereignty to be meddled with.  They should make an example of these 47.

 

People tend to forget that when HK was "British", it was not democratic. It had an appointed governor, appointed by London. It was only 25 years ago. Also there is nothing in the current agreement signed by the Chris Patten when he left about HK becoming a democracy. 

 

I tend to think that governing 1.5 billion people is a bit different than running a tin-pot country of 60 odd million. If you value stability and safety, unfortunately you have to lose a little personal freedom, just as Brit and Yanks lost many freedoms after 9/11 without a peep from the sheeple. 

 

"The media have been instructed to aggressively disseminate anti-China news and they do it with relish. "

 

Nonsense. Maybe you're into state-owned media that can be ordered around like that. Given the cheer-leading display for China, quite understandable.

14 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Westerners will complain whatever the HK or Chinese do.

 

PRC unilateral walked away from their agreement with HMG for 'one country, two systems' which was set to expires in 2047. BTW the decision was not taken by Hong Kong, but enforced by an authoritarian dictatorship in Beijing. 

17 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Good move. Westerners will complain whatever the HK or Chinese do. The media have been instructed to aggressively disseminate anti-China news and they do it with relish. No country would tolerate the meddling that the West do in China. China needs to show the West that they will not allow their sovereignty to be meddled with.  They should make an example of these 47.

 

People tend to forget that when HK was "British", it was not democratic. It had an appointed governor, appointed by London. It was only 25 years ago. Also there is nothing in the current agreement signed by the Chris Patten when he left about HK becoming a democracy. 

 

I tend to think that governing 1.5 billion people is a bit different than running a tin-pot country of 60 odd million. If you value stability and safety, unfortunately you have to lose a little personal freedom, just as Brit and Yanks lost many freedoms after 9/11 without a peep from the sheeple. 

 

How offensive you are. The Chinese gave assurances of verbal suffrage. The issue goes far beyond simple voting rights: It goes to basic human freedoms and rights, all of which existed  in Hong Kong long before the turnover.

 

China agreed to two system rule - to allow the Hong Kong population to enjoy the same rights and liberties that had existed prior to the handover. You call the UK a tinpot country and yet UK people have freedoms and rights that the Chinese deny their own people. What an arrogant attitude you have, whinging about  your imagined  infringement, but not the least bit bothered by the demonic theft of the basic human rights of Hong Kong people. You offer imagined hurt as justification for the Chinese abuse.  No one lost the right to vote, or due process of law or freedom of expression under the US &UK laws as you claim. 

 

Ever hear of a country called India? It has similar size population to China, yes? As imperfect as it is, it manages to hold elections where government is voted out as often as it is in, where an imperfect and bureaucratic judicial system manages to respect some basic human rights. Tell me what country aside from China ally North Korea has concentration camps, where  young women are violently raped, where people are forced to work in military factories? 

 

China is engaged in a cleaner version of what we saw in Cambodia with Pol Pot, and  the  UN  stays silent because of the Russia and China support  for human rights abuse.  Today, China hackers tried to attack India vaccine manufacturers.

https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/vaccine-updates/story/chinese-hackers-attacked-it-systems-of-indian-covid-vaccine-makers-serum-institute-bharat-biotech-report-1774494-2021-03-01

China has sabotaged the economy of Australia imposing unjust and  illegal tariffs on Australian exports. it holds  2 Canadians hostage and has denied them  their legal rights such as access to visit from Canada embassy and you  dare to  paint the military dictatorship as some sort of benevolent land?  How very vulgar.

The courageous and valiant Hong Kong  people who are fighting for their right to exist merit our support, not a knife in the back as you promote.

 

No.

No.

No.

 

18 hours ago, Surelynot said:

...and people were much happier, much safer and more prosperous...even though there was no democracy.......Winnie the Pooh has destroyed their lives....HK is finished......One country...one system.

I lived there from 1989 to 1992 and Hong Kong was run by a democratically elected Legislature?   The only British element was the Governor, who had very limited power to intervene in politics.  The Legislature had the ability to appeal Governor decisions to the House of Lords, as it then was.  It had never been used in the proceeding 30 years. The whole Civil Service was also Hong Kong Chinese, with a smattering of Expat advisors on short term contracts.