In a situation where freedom of speech is greatly restricted, the Civil Human Rights Front continued to set up street stations in Causeway Bay on the 26th, distributing promotional materials. Members of the Civil Human Rights Front called on citizens to pay attention to the “Democratic Party Primary Case” which will be adjudicated from May 30th to 31st, and demanded the government to release all political prisoners.
Vice-Chairman of the Civil Human Rights Front, Jimmy Sham, called on citizens to pay attention to the “Democratic Party Primary Case”, as the case will continue its hearing from May 30th to 31st, with judges set to decide the guilt of 16 defendants who have not pleaded guilty, including former Legislative Council member of the Civil Human Rights Front, “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung.
Sham lamented that the outcome seems to have been predetermined, leading to the likelihood that not many citizens will attend to listen. He also mentioned concerns that attendees may be tracked and harassed by the police, questioning whether this aligns with the government’s commitment to “open and transparent judicial procedures”.
Furthermore, Sham stated that the Civil Human Rights Front supports the government’s implementation of waste charging, but there are reports suggesting that the government will postpone its enforcement with no specific date set. Sham speculated that the government is concerned that waste charges may weigh down the Hong Kong economy, hence the so-called “compliance with public opinion” in delaying implementation.
Chairperson of the Civil Human Rights Front, Bonnie Chen, described the “Democratic Party Primary Case” as a trial of Hong Kong people’s pursuit of democracy. She urged citizens to pay attention to the case, and how judges will interpret an action based on the Basic Law, twisted as “conspiring to subvert state power”. She cited the Basic Law, stating that if the Legislative Council refuses to pass the government’s proposed budget, the Chief Executive can dissolve the Legislative Council; if the re-elected Legislative Council still refuses to pass the same budget, the Chief Executive must resign.
Chen also mentioned the “Hong Kong Alliance case” as absurd, as the Alliance had been holding legal gatherings and marches under police approval for nearly 30 years without any incidents, but activities suddenly became illegal after 2020. The three leaders of the Alliance, Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho, and Chow Hang-tung, were charged with “inciting subversion of state power” and are currently in custody, with the case yet to be heard. She believes that the government’s actions have subverted the habits of Hong Kong people, as nearly half of Hong Kongers have participated in the candlelight vigil at Victoria Park on June 4th.
She described Hong Kong people as currently “left with only words”, as they are no longer allowed to march, gather, or vote. She hopes that even if citizens may not dare to speak out, they should still live out the truth in their minds and believe there is still hope.
Additionally, Civil Human Rights Front members, former convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, Chan Ho-hun, and former Eastern District Councillor “Ah Niu” Tsang Kin-shing were also present to distribute promotional materials.