In mitigation

From the HK47 mitigation pleas. Long Hair

After judges ruled the group would have created “a constitutional crisis” had they won the election, the defendants have been in mitigation hearings since June to plead for lenient sentences.

But two of the defendants sounded a defiant tone on Tuesday, with veteran activist and ex-lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung — better known as “Long Hair” — telling the court “human rights are higher than political power”.

“‘Power to the people’ is a belief that I have adhered to throughout my life,” the 68-year-old wrote in his mitigation letter.

“Although I am a prisoner today, I have no complaint… I hope Hong Kong people never lose or forget, fight for democracy and uphold justice!”

The letter was published online by the League of Social Democrats, one of Hong Kong’s last remaining opposition parties, which Leung had co-founded.

And former district council member Ng kin-wai

Ng kin-wai, 28, was one of 47 activists arrested and charged in 2021 with “conspiracy to commit subversion to subvert the state power” for participating in an unofficial poll to select candidates for a 2020 legislative council election.

“I will not apologise for the beliefs and values I share with my voters”, Ng told the court, though he adding that he would shoulder the responsibility for his actions.

The comment prompted one of the presiding judges, Alex Lee, to ask if Ng had “no remorse”.

In response Ng said, “Correct,” and added, “As a politician, I expect myself to be responsible, to do my best, to stay till the last.”

Ng is among the fifth batch of the 45 convicted defendants to make mitigation pleas for a lighter sentence.

The national security law Beijing imposed in 2020 specifies sentences for the offence ranging from three years to life, depending on culpability.

The mitigation hearings began in June, after 14 of the 16 defendants who pleaded not guilty were convicted in May.

Judge Andrew Chan said Ng would be entitled to a concession that would be “significantly less than others”, given his late plea and lack of remorse.

“Today is a mitigation hearing,” Chan added. “Today is not an occasion for you to express your political view.”

Quick reminder: they are being tried for participating in a political exercise – trying to win an election.

Chan Po-ying – Long Hair’s wife – loses an appeal against conviction for soliciting donations to the League of Social Democrats without a permit.

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14 Responses to In mitigation

  1. Rula Flaw says:

    Among the whole slate of heroes, those are exceptionally brave stands by Long Hair and Ng Kin-wai. I kneel before you gentlemen.

    Sad that it took an international newswire to tell us what the people’s man is still doing for us. The SCMP leads on the defiance of the less-known Ng Kin-wai, but wanly mentions only Long Hair’s safer utterances, and that he is “taking part in the mitigation hearings”. You bet he damn well is!

  2. Chinese Netizen says:

    Quick reminder, reminder: “…judges ruled the group WOULD HAVE created “a constitutional crisis” HAD THEY WON the election…”

    I guess pure speculation and paranoia count as hard evidence to rule by in HKCCPSAR these days?

  3. Mary Melville says:

    Ng gave an account of his reasons for joining the primaries. “Every riot is the voice of the unheard — if the reasonable demands of Hongkongers continue to be unheard, contradiction and conflict will follow,” Indeed. That elephant in still in the room and playing badminton is certainly not the solution.
    For Long Hair, those of us who know him personally expected no less.

  4. Mark Bradley says:

    Every time I see these prostitute jurists talk down to people, who actually have a spine, in their rigged kangaroo court it makes my blood boil. It is painfully obvious these are unfair trials, and no amount of ceremonial legal procedure can cover up the total injustice.

    I learned that people like these opposition politicians who I vote for and brave journalists who in some cases literally run into danger to report on the facts are people worthy of respect not a bunch of privileged overpaid jurists who nakedly show themselves as hacks even when aren’t NSL appointees like these three clowns.

  5. Stanley Lieber says:

    @Mark Bradley

    Well said and 100% agree.

  6. James says:

    Is there a word for people who remain true to their convictions under threat of life imprisonment? Correct answers are subject to legal prosecution. He was far from my favourite local politician, but I wonder how many other people have turned 180 degrees on Long Hair seeing him walk the talk?

  7. Reader says:

    @Mary
    ” That elephant in still in the room and playing badminton”

    My mind is boggling.

  8. Chinese Netizen says:

    Mark Bradley: Hear hear!

  9. cautious cynic says:

    Rula Flaw

    I hold no brief for the SCMP but certainly in the article to which you provided a link they do not describe Ng Kin-Wai as an ex-politician but rather as an ex-district councillor, which he undoubtedly is.

    If you are going to levy criticism make sure it is accurate. If not, it devalues the point you are attempting to make.

  10. notguilty says:

    Google does not produce.

    Does any body know, and can post, the website of the League of Social Democrats?

    Ditto their bank account details?

    Catch 22. Donations from a HK bank account safer for them but less safe for me. Advice?

    Mr Hemlock?

  11. Stephen Yaxley-Lennon says:

    @notguilty

    Are you trying to get Hemlock arrested? Do your own dirty work, mate.

  12. Muphry Slaw (formerly known as Rula) says:

    @cautious cynic
    The article is titled “‘Draconian laws’ not the answer, ex-Hong Kong politician tells subversion trial”. Since Ng is unlikely to be ‘ex-Hong Kong’ for the foreseeable future, I do believe your aspersions are misplaced.

    And yes, I know that the body copy calls him an ex-District Councillor, and that headlines are written by editors. But, um, try harder.

  13. Cautious cynic says:

    The former rula law

    Your new moniker is apt, for me.

    I should learn to read all, including headlines, it appears.

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