Former vice chairman of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China (ASA) and prominent lawyer, Joshua Zou, was arrested in 2021 for refusing to submit requested information to the National Security Bureau. He was later charged with “inciting subversion of state power” and has been in custody for nearly three years. In Reading, Southeast England, the Hong Kong organization “Reading Hongkongers CIC” held a screening of the documentary “She’s In Jail” on Saturday afternoon, with over a hundred people in attendance to watch the film that cannot be shown in Hong Kong. Former student activist and source mobilizer in England, Chung Hon-lam, newly elected councilor of Wokingham Wu Zhao-kong, and producer of the play “May 35” Li Minghui served as speakers at the event.
The ASA, to which Joshua Zou belongs, is often seen as having a strong connection to “Greater China,” conflicting with the rise of the localist movement in the 2010s. Localist figure Chung Hon-lam, who was detained in the same prison in Tai Lam with Joshua Zou before fleeing to England, recalled witnessing supporters in the documentary shouting Zou’s name from a height, reminiscent of the scene when he looked up to high places from prison. He lamented that no matter what path one takes in Hong Kong today, it ultimately leads to imprisonment.
Chung Hon-lam was charged with “subversion,” “conspiracy to publish seditious publications,” and two counts of money laundering in October 2020, which led to a 43-month sentence. He was released on June 5 last year after completing his sentence. On December 29 last year, he announced his arrival in England and applied for political asylum.
He recalled the bravery of Joshua Zou in the documentary for not admitting his guilt and being willing to speak clearly about why he did what he did during his trial, saying, “She’s even braver than me.” He remembered how he initially insisted, along with his defense lawyer, on not admitting to the four charges but was later advised that if he admitted to “subversion” and one of the money laundering charges, he could “serve less time” and not have to serve all four charges at once.
Chung further recalled his lawyer asking him how he planned to fight the case if he did not admit guilt. When asked, “In today’s Hong Kong, what political cases are there to fight?”, he hoped for no admission of guilt to show Hong Kong people and former activists, “We still stand by what we believe in.”
Chung admitted to feeling “weak,” quoting his lawyer’s advice that he should “think about admitting to two charges, getting out sooner to continue working for the people of Hong Kong, rather than making a political statement and potentially serving who knows how many years for all four charges.” He eventually confessed to two charges.
Chung mentioned the only time he saw Joshua Zou was in early June 2019 at a seminar on “June Fourth” at the University of Hong Kong, where they were also joined by Youngspiration’s Leung Chung-hang to discuss the implications of “June Fourth” on Hong Kong and the relationship between China and Hong Kong’s democracy. At that time, he did not know Zou personally but noticed that she was from the ASA and prepared to engage with her on differing views, leading to heated debates.
At the end of 2020, while still in prison, Chung saw less voice in the activist community after the implementation of the National Security Law, but stated that “Joshua Zou, the ASA, and students advocating for wisdom and critical thinking are still bravely coming out.”
In ongoing political cases, Chung described how former activists, under pressure from the authorities, turned into prosecution witnesses against defendants. He described this situation as making it “harder to see hope” for everyone, but Zou’s refusal to admit guilt, even as a political statement, “may be futile, but at least at this moment, she can bring some hope to everyone.”
Chung admitted that to this day, he may not fully agree or understand Joshua Zou’s statements, but reflected on how in Hong Kong’s past or in a democratic society, different individuals could voice their beliefs. Some may support building a democratic China, others may endorse “non-violence and rationality,” and some may embrace more radical approaches, all contributing to the cause of freedom and democracy in their own ways. However, he lamented that in today’s Hong Kong, regardless of the path one takes, it ultimately leads to imprisonment, as they are all oppressed individuals.
Chung urged overseas Hongkongers to write letters to political prisoners in Hong Kong, stating that every political prisoner hopes to receive letters but might not always have the support of friends, family, or partners. Having witnessed such cases in prison, he emphasized the importance of sharing daily life experiences with political prisoners as a way to offer much-needed support and encouragement.
When asked about information censorship in prison preventing political prisoners from knowing about external events, Chung recalled that prisoners involved in the case of the 12 Hongkongers had “99% of their letters intercepted,” with only letters from family reaching them. The fate of other prisoners receiving letters depended on the decision of corrections officers. Despite some restrictions, Chung mentioned that even reading pro-government newspapers and magazines, he was able to stay informed about events outside by sharing information with friends during prison visits in a “safe manner.”
Wu Zhao-kong stated that Joshua Zou had made many sacrifices for the people of Hong Kong to awaken those outside the “wall,” emphasizing the importance of not just settling for a comfortable life in England but actively supporting the cause of democracy and human rights for Hong Kong. Wu encouraged Hongkongers to participate in demonstrations, cultural events, donate to humanitarian aid funds like “Leaf Rhythm,” and register as voters to support pro-democracy and human rights advocates in elections.
In the documentary “She’s In Jail,” the presence of former ASA chairman Ho Chun-yan, alongside Joshua Zou, was also prominent. Ho, Zou, and former ASA chairman Lee Cheuk-yan are currently detained as part of allegations of “inciting subversion of state power” within the ASA. Wu recalled working as Ho’s parliamentary assistant, with Ho as his political mentor, noting Ho’s dedication to his work, providing legal advice to neighbors until late at night, without any retreat, showing great care for everyone. Despite Ho’s firm commitment, he was charged with subverting state power by the Chinese Communist Party, which Wu found to be incredibly absurd.
Wu stated that overseas Hongkongers can still hold gatherings commemorating “June Fourth,” hoping that overseas voices from Hong Kong remain active, carrying the responsibility of passing down the legacy and reasons for their relocation to the UK to the next generation.
Li Minghui, who is preparing for the upcoming English version performance of the play “May 35” this week in London, participated in the discussion via video. Having volunteered with Zou at the ASA for many years, she recalled being deeply impressed by Zou’s efforts when they first met, finding her highly dedicated and encouraging during low moments after relocating to England.
Li noted how the government is currently “trying every method to erase the history of the June Fourth movement,” the anti-extradition bill protests of 2019, and rewriting history, explaining that as a dispersed Hongkonger, she aims to work diligently and choose to tell stories through art.
She emphasized the importance of Hong Kong being a place where people were once free to commemorate “June Fourth” and teachers could pass on historical knowledge to students. Li reflected on past “June Fourth” events in Victoria Park, where speeches by Tiananmen Mothers provided warmth through candlelight; she noted that Hong Kong and mainland China continue to have individuals facing hardships for striving for democracy, with overseas Hongkongers still holding activities to commemorate, likening the current situation to being under pressure like the Tiananmen Mothers, believing that these events provide warmth to those enduring difficulties.
Representatives from “Reading Hongkongers CIC,” who organized the screening event, mentioned feeling fortunate to have the ability to raise their voices outside of the regime’s control, as scholars have pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party aims to alienate overseas Hongkongers from those in Hong Kong. They stressed the need to resist such forces and urged overseas Hongkongers to keep speaking out and engaging in activities to demonstrate their unwavering beliefs.
They noted that while such events may not directly change Hong Kong society or government, they serve as a testament to faith under oppression, urging overseas Hongkongers to continue speaking up and participating in activities.
One audience member shared her experience of being a high school student in 1989, participating in sit-ins and marches outside the Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong branch after exams and noted that her son, also a high school student, continues to participate in “June Fourth” gatherings, experiencing both joy and sadness. The mixed emotions conveyed hope for continuing efforts with the candlelight keeping the spirit alive.