Imprisoned Hong Kong barrister Chow Hang-tung, who is waiting for trial under a heavy-handed nationwide security law troubled the city by Beijing, has alerted the international community to take the crackdown on dissent there as a caution.
In an acceptance speech from jail on being awarded the Outstanding Democrat of China award by activists in the United States, Chow stated she had always felt herself to be in a location of relative safety compared to pro-democracy activists in mainland China, and that she had just become the focus of news headings since the authorities had actually targeted the organizers of a now-banned candlelight vigil marking the 1989 Tiananmen massacre.
” Everything happening in Hong Kong is an alerting to the world, revealing the speed at which totalitarianism can destroy an open and free society, and repurpose the systems and laws stemming from a democratic society as the tools of political suppression,” Chow said.
” Everything that has happened in Hong Kong could happen anywhere,” Chow said. “If you dont desire the guideline of horror to spread like a pandemic, you need to join the democratic resistance to totalitarianism.”
She stated any awards need to go to the “pioneers of democracy” in mainland China, who she explained as “indomitable in the face of common monitoring, torture, seclusion and silencing.”
” Youre the ones who inspired and motivated our struggle, and taught us how to live with dignity under totalitarianism,” wrote Chow, whose award was accepted in her absence at the Liberty Sculpture Park in California by veteran journalist Ching Cheong at the weekend.
Chows warning came as a top Chinese authorities in charge of Hong Kong said the city had been “blindly pursuing Western-style democracy,” and had now reversed to the proper path of “patriots ruling Hong Kong.”
Hongkongers “yearning for a better life” could now be put in service of the “terrific restoration of the Chinese country” under ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) director Xia Baolong stated in a speech published to the offices official site.
” We are extremely pleased to see that the Hong Kong nationwide security law has been effectively implemented, and some anti-China and Hong Kong elements who violate the law are being sanctioned as they should,” Xia stated, lauding new electoral rules created to make sure that no opposition prospects will likely be approved to run in Dec. 19 elections to the Legislative Council (LegCo).
” Those supporting Hong Kong self-reliance and anti-China chaos in Hong Kong must never ever get in be permitted to go into public life [here],” Xia stated, including that people from a variety of various backgrounds were running in the elections.
The nationwide security law, which worked from July 1, 2020, criminalizes speech deemed to “incite hatred” versus the Hong Kong and Chinese federal governments, and has introduced a citywide crackdown on all kinds of public dissent, peaceful protest and political opposition.
Anyone speaking ill of Hong Kongs police force, who triggered a worldwide outcry for out of proportion and extensive violence during the 2019 protest motion, might also deal with prosecution, as can anybody encouraging others to boycott upcoming elections under new guidelines developed to ensure only pro-CCP candidates can stand.
47 veteran opposition figures, former legislators and founders of the 2014 Occupy Central pro-democracy movement are awaiting trial on subversion charges based on their involvement in a non-binding primary election in 2020 to choose the best prospects to run in elections to the Legislative Council (LegCo). They are implicated of attempting to overturn the city government by trying to win enough seats to obstruct federal government legislation, consisting of spending plans.
The majority have been declined bail, and will have been behind bars for a minimum of a year by the time of their trial, now held off to April.
Chows application for bail, the 6th considering that her arrest in September 2021, was rejected by a Hong Kong court on Monday.
Translated and modified by Luisetta Mudie.
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,” Xia said, adding that individuals from a variety of different backgrounds were running in the elections.
