One more NatSec sedition case from last week…
Au Kin-wai, 58, appeared before Chief Magistrate Victor So at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to one count of “knowingly publishing publications that had a seditious intention” over statements he made online.
He was charged on June 21 over posts on social media platforms Facebook, X, and YouTube calling for the dissolution of the Chinese Communist Party, and for Chinese president Xi Jinping and Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee – both of whom he dubbed “dictators” – to step down.
He also invoked a Cultural Revolution-era slogan: “Revolution is no crime, to rebel is justified.”
…Kwan on Friday contended that the court had to consider the minimal impact of Au’s actions, saying that most of Au’s 200-odd posts were repetitive, and that he only had about 20 followers on all four of his social media accounts. The counsel asked the court not to give too much weight to the protection of society as a sentencing factor, considering the defendant’s limited reach.
HKDC’s tally…
37 have been imprisoned in #HongKong for #sedition. 104 arrested, 60 charged, 42 convicted, 0 acquitted. Almost all for speech protected in free countries, including 42 for online posts, 15 for journalism, & 13 for publishing, possessing, importing &/or selling books.
Kevin Lau (former Ming Pao editor and victim of a knife attack in 2014) writes on the intimidation campaign against Hong Kong journalists…
The harassment methods often involve pressuring relatives, specifically targeting journalists’ parents, spouses, and siblings. They spread rumors to their employers, landlords, and even neighbors and real estate agents, claiming the journalist is a criminal. They make all kinds of unfounded smears, trying to put enormous pressure on journalists’ relatives so that, unable to bear the disturbance, they will persuade the journalist to stay silent and change careers. This method of pressuring relatives to isolate them socially has often been seen in mainland rights activists’ experiences but was rare in Hong Kong. Now it’s being used intensively against a group of young journalists, reflecting the invasion of mainland political suppression tactics into Hong Kong. The spectre of Cultural Revolution-style denunciation campaigns now hangs over the heads of targeted individuals. This might be the most eye-opening aspect for Hong Kong people – if the HKJA hadn’t conducted a broad survey of its members, and some harassment victims hadn’t stood up to testify, this dark political trend might still be unexposed.
“37 have been imprisoned in #HongKong for #sedition. 104 arrested, 60 charged, 42 convicted, 0 acquitted. Almost all for speech protected in free countries…”
Well there you are. HK is neither a country nor free.
To now expect HK to ever follow “international norms”, whatever that means, (or apply any colonial law as if while still under the Brits) is folly and pure fantasy.
Xi’s your daddy.
Strangely none of the reports on the alarming statistics on depression and mental health issues among students and the increase in youth suicides refer to the possible impact of the incarceration of so many young folk for what many would consider to be expressions of freedom of speach and assembly.
This compounded by the frequent and drastic changes to how schools are managed and the focus on restrictions and “negatives” instead of the nurturing of a liberal and empathetic younger generation.
A wise observation, @Mary.
With (a quite staggering) 25% of early-twenty-somethings having left Hong Kong, it’s not surprising that those remaining are also adversely affected.
@Mary
I wonder if the forced daily singing, with fake enthusiasm, of the national anthem has anything to do with it.
@Mary Melville – the “focus on restrictions and negatives” is nothing new. Hong Kong’s “pro-Beijing heavyweights” have always been more inclined to tell local people what they can’t do than what they can, except for vague allusions to the supposed “opportunities” awaiting them in the GBA.