This is a #thread about what happened in HK today.
1) 47 of the 55 pro-dem activists arrested on 6 Jan for joining their camp's primaries for LegCo election are prosecuted for "conspiracy to subversion" in their advanced reporting trip to police stations.
1) 47 of the 55 pro-dem activists arrested on 6 Jan for joining their camp's primaries for LegCo election are prosecuted for "conspiracy to subversion" in their advanced reporting trip to police stations.
2) This is the largest group prosecuted for "subversion" not only since #NSL came in force in HK est 30 June 2020 but also since the offence of subversion was included in China's criminal law in 1997.
3) The blow is wide and heavy - not only those who signed a joint declaration of their intention to use every power a lawmaker has to push for democratisation in HK have been implicated. Among the 6 organisers, only John Clancey is not prosecuted.
4) Allegations are pressed on the bases of NSL22(3) and Crimes Ordinance 159(a)(c) (Conspiracy), which can land the accused three years to life in prison.
5) Offences, as police described, are that the 47 people "plotted to abuse" the power provided for lawmakers in article 70 of Basic Law to "veto all government budgets" and therefore force Chief Executive to dissolve the legislature and eventually resign.
6) This case will again set NSL and Basic Law on a colliding track when the court is asked to decided whether election candidates making up their minds to veto government proposals with powers given by Basic Law is an offence under NSL.
7) Members of press and public are unlikely to see the 47 defendants in person in court on Monday as all seats in the major courtroom are reserved for defendants, lawyers and family members. And NSL bail provision is effectively meaning no bail.
8) Tmr's mention is also a test of HK people's rage while Beijing is mulling over electoral reform in HK and fixing muscles for the "two sessions". @figochanhowun of @chrf_hk has called on ppl to queue for a seat at 9.30am outside court.
9) Hope and resilience are two most important messages the 47 were trying to deliver in their last words before entering the police stations this afternoon. "What we need is not more imagination of sufferings, but hope and determination to go beyond sufferings," Owen Chow wrote.
10) Last but not least they are not just names, numbers, nor “freedom fighters”.
Reporter: anything you would like to say to your wife?
Lester Shum:
Reporter: anything you would like to say to your wife?
Lester Shum:
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
