Last Saturday afternoon, Los Angeles Chinese residents concerned about Hong Kong affairs gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate to protest, demanding that the Hong Kong authorities withdraw the prosecution against former members of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (Support Group) Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho, and Chow Hang-tung. They also called on the international community to pay attention to the current situation in Hong Kong where freedom of speech, assembly, and association is being deprived.
Lee Cheuk-yan is a former chairman of the Support Group, a former member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council; Albert Ho is a practicing lawyer who served as a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council and chairman of the Democratic Party; Chow Hang-tung is a Hong Kong lawyer and former vice chair of the Support Group. The three were charged with incitement to subvert state power between July 1, 2020, and September 8, 2021. Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung have been detained for over 1,500 days, while Albert Ho has been in custody for over 1,300 days. The trial was originally scheduled to begin on the 11th of this month but was postponed shortly before the scheduled date and rescheduled for January 22nd next year.
“We are here not only for these three individuals of conscience but also for all those in Hong Kong who have been deprived of their freedom,” said Zhang Weiqing, a member of the Chinese Democratic Party, during the rally. “We want to tell the authorities that using criminal law to suppress peaceful expression is a betrayal of justice and humanity. We want to tell the world that freedom in Hong Kong is being eroded, and we will not stand idly by.”
For the 30 years before 2020, Hong Kong citizens supported the Support Group in organizing the world’s largest annual June 4th commemorative event to expose the evil of the Chinese Communist Party and demand justice for the victims. These activities were banned by the authorities in 2020.
Liu Guangxian, chairman of the Los Angeles branch of the Chinese Democratic Party’s Western Party Headquarters, stated at the rally, “Democratic individuals worldwide are all watching the unjust trial of the three martyrs Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho, and Chow Hang-tung by the Chinese Communist Party.” He said that the purpose of the rally is to tell the CCP that their evil methods cannot shake the determination of the Chinese people to pursue democracy.
One of the organizers of the event, Zhao Shuguang, stated that the three defendants of the Support Group are not criminals but courageous citizens who uphold memory and safeguard the truth. “They once held high the torch of ‘Never Forget June 4th,’ reminding the world that Hong Kong once had freedom and conscience. However, now they are imprisoned because of their beliefs,” he said. “When conscience is on trial, silence becomes complicity. We must not forget, nor can we retreat.”
Zhao Shuguang stressed, “Releasing the three defendants of the Support Group is guarding the soul of Hong Kong, defending the rights of everyone to pursue freedom and justice.”
Liu Leyuan, a member of the Chinese Democratic Party responsible for photographing the rally, stated, “Over thirty years have passed, and the Chinese authorities are still covering up the truth of June 4th, trying to block people’s memories, and even treating June 4th commemorators as criminals.” “It is because of brave individuals like Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Chow Hang-tung that they use their beliefs and actions to let us see the buried historical truth again.”
He called on the CCP to release all political prisoners immediately and stated that only by dismantling the Communist Party can the freedom and human rights of the people of Hong Kong be restored.
The event was organized by the United Western Party Headquarters of the Chinese Democratic Party.