Recently, the Hong Kong court ruled that the disbanded Hong Kong Alliance and former chairman Lee Cheuk-yan, vice-chairwoman Chow Hang-tung had been convicted of “inciting subversion of state power,” a verdict that sparked strong condemnation overseas. Former Chief Editor of the West Coast Edition of the Sing Tao Daily, Ho Leung-mau, and renowned director and veteran media person Law Yan-fai, in an exclusive interview with Epoch Times, denounced the absurd actions of the Hong Kong government, believing that this unjust ruling has caused significant harm to Hong Kong’s civil society.
Ho Leung-mau stated: “I find the conclusion of guilt in this ruling to be extremely absurd. Firstly, the Hong Kong Alliance has been in existence in Hong Kong for over 30 years, it is a legal organization with company registration, submits independent audit reports every year, and has been legally operating since the British colonial era until the handover in 1997. Moreover, the activities organized by the Hong Kong Alliance each year have received responses from the general public. Just because the Chinese Communist Party committed the heinous crime of openly murdering its own citizens in the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989, the Hong Kong Alliance has maintained a strong stance of criticism towards the Communist Party but has never been involved in ‘subverting state power.’ They only uphold justice, radiate human decency, seek justice for the deceased Chinese people, and demand punishment for the government power that harms the people. So, I believe that this guilt verdict is entirely a political judgment. The court’s conclusion is fundamentally unfounded, it is unjust and the most grievous harm to Hong Kong’s civil society.”
Ho Leung-mau pointed out that this ruling was already inevitable. Since the implementation of the National Security Law, the Hong Kong government pursues every case relentlessly. Even if a judge determines the charges are unfounded, the Hong Kong Department of Justice will persist in appealing until a conviction is achieved, which is the inevitable result of political judgment. This approach not only undermines Hong Kong’s original rule of law but also signals the end of judicial independence in Hong Kong.
Ho Leung-mau strongly agrees with constitutional scholar Professor Chan Man-ming’s statement that “the judges have misinterpreted the constitution.” He pointed out: “In fact, the Chinese Constitution does not explicitly state that the Chinese Communist Party has a one-party dictatorship, so the Hong Kong Alliance’s call to ‘end one-party dictatorship’ does not violate the constitution.” “The constitution states: Power belongs to the people. When one to two million people in Hong Kong take to the streets, it should be a time for the government to reflect, not for these stakeholders to be held accountable.”
Furthermore, he highlighted that during the trial, the defense lawyers requested the prosecution to present evidence of the defendants colluding with foreign forces, yet the public saw no response. As for whether they received foreign funding, there was likewise no evidence presented.
Ho Leung-mau believes that if an appeal is made purely from a legal perspective rather than a political one, there is a chance of being acquitted or receiving a lighter sentence.
Ho Leung-mau urged the Canadian government to openly condemn the Hong Kong government’s absurd ruling. He stated: “A stern condemnation is necessary! We demand the immediate release of all individuals arrested from the Hong Kong Alliance, including Jimmy Lai, the ’47-person case,’ and all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. At the same time, we hope the Canadian government will urge the Hong Kong government to respond to the United Nations’ call and immediately rescind the ‘Hong Kong version of the National Security Law’.”
Veteran director and producer Law Yan-fai expressed that regarding the ruling of the Hong Kong Alliance case, “everyone knows that there won’t be any good outcome under the National Security Law.”
Law Yan-fai had traveled between Beijing and Hong Kong to report on the events of the 1989 protests and the Tiananmen Square incident, witnessing the efforts made by the Hong Kong Alliance over decades to seek justice for Tiananmen Square and promote democratic initiatives in China.
She remarked that over the years, millions of people in Hong Kong had participated in the protests, with many transitioning from youth to building families and raising the next generation. “When the government announces their guilt, I think most Hong Kong people would feel as if we are all guilty as well.” Therefore, this verdict had left everyone deeply saddened. Her friends in Hong Kong mentioned that they now feel they cannot even express this sorrow anymore, and she expressed deep sympathy for this sentiment.
Law Yan-fai pointed out that over the years, the Hong Kong Alliance had cooperated with the government, obtaining permits for their activities, and the police had been dispatched to maintain order at their events. Their principles and slogans had remained unchanged for decades, so why were they suddenly found guilty now when they had been innocent for so many years?
She stated that as a media person who had become dispersed overseas, they have always been attentive to events in Hong Kong. Law Yan-fai felt “outraged” by the court’s ruling, saying: “The Hong Kong Alliance has been very peaceful in their actions, often described as ‘glue for Greater China.’ As Hong Kong moves towards localization, many people feel the need to separate from the mainland, but they have always been patriots, hoping for progress in the nation. To judge them guilty under these circumstances is extremely absurd.”
She believed that convicting these patriots is “a great irony,” and for those who are innocent, even “being sentenced for a day is considered excessive.” ◇