Shrinking Space for Democratic Party to Celebrate

The Democratic Party's low-key banquet finally held

The Democratic Party, one of Hong Kong's remaining opposition parties, finally managed to hold a banquet to celebrate its 30th anniversary after several restaurants made last-minute cancellations over the past two years.

However this one was not without some drama, as halfway through the festivities around 8.30pm, some uniformed police officers arrived, saying they had received a complaint.

They later left without making any arrests.

Such is the situation the Democratic Party faces these days, not being able to hold a party without some kind of interruption.

In previous instances, host venues suddenly cancelled at the last minute, which former Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing says it's a pity there are so many challenges in holding a dinner with its members.

"There are many restaurants actually hoping to take our order, but were forced to drop it for various reasons," she said.

In previous years, the party held banquets on a much larger scale, but the obstacles its faces now demonstrate the shrinking political space the Democratic Party operates in.

For instance someone pretended to be a representative of the party and cancelled their booking, while another restaurant refused to serve them, claiming they had not paid a deposit, which Lau said the party was not asked for one.

Another restaurant even claimed the party could not be served because two of its chefs were "fighting".

How creative.

In previous years, hours before the banquet was supposed to be held, the restaurant claimed it was having issues with gas for the stove, while another year during the pandemic, a venue claimed it was closed for cleaning, but it was open the day before and the day after.

Nevertheless, former Democratic Party chairman Yeung Sum said it insisted on maintaining its presence in Hong Kong to defend various rights and freedoms. He also reiterated the party's support for the "one country, two systems" governing principle.

Wonder how next year's party will go down... if they can still hold it...

Jimmy Lai's Trial Finally Begins

Lai has been remanded in custody for more than 1,100 days

All eyes are on West Kowloon Law Courts today as media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying's national security law case is finally underway after numerous postponements.

Many people came out to witness the court case, Lai's wife Teresa arrived along with one of their sons; retired Catholic leader Joseph Zen, and pro-democracy politician Emily Lau Wai-hing. 

Grandma Wong being escorted by police

Members of the public were also keen to watch the proceedings first hand. A 29-year-old who gave her name as JC was first in line, having braved the chilly weather in front of the court since 10pm the night before, while the second person in line, a man surnamed Sung arrived at 4am.

Staff from the consulates of New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Canada and the United Kingdom were on hand to observe the proceedings as well.

Some people were shocked to see Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung had 1,000 police officers around the court house to prevent any disruption. But the case has been so heavily advertised that the government wants to have a massive show of force for such a high-profile case. 

Grandma Wong was in front of the court house with her UK flag screaming, "Support Jimmy Lai! Support Apple Daily!" The police tried to move her across the street in a bid to remove her as a distraction, but the media followed.

Already the defense has launched the argument that the sedition charge against Lai should be dismissed as it was laid after the permitted prosecution time frame. Senior Counsel Robert Pang Yiu-hung argued the sedition charge was under a colonial-era law, and not the national security law. 

Members of the public were keen to watch trial

Pang said the prosecution had passed the time limit for charging Lai, as the colonial-era sedition law states charges must be laid within six months of the alleged offense, which in this case would be from April 1, 2019 to June 24, 2021.

As a result this issue must be resolved before the case can continue. Three judges appointed by the chief executive are presiding over the case: Madam Justices Esther Toh Lye-ping, Susana D'Alamada Remedios, and Mr Justice Alex Lee Wan-tung.

Meanwhile in the last few weeks, Lai's son Sebastien has been rallying politicians, in particular Foreign Secretary David Cameron, lobbying them to push for his father's release, as he is a British citizen.

HK to Crackdown on "Soft Resistance"

Patriotism is a sign of agreement with Beijing

The Chinese Communist Party is determined to win at all costs.

After implementing the national security law in July 2020, Beijing thought it would defeat all dissent in Hong Kong following the 2019 protests.

However, people have found ways to continue their "soft resistance" in various ways, such as patronising the "yellow economic circle", refusing to sing the Chinese national anthem, not registering for organ donation because of its mainland links, and openly jeering at mainlanders in the city.

There is word Beijing is not pleased and wants to continue further repressing Hongkongers who refuse to bend in the CPC way.

Tang says soft resistance will be tackled

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on July 25 that "soft resistance" must be tackled, and even hinted that some media, and people in arts and culture may be culprits of this soft resistance.

Earlier this month on July 3, Tang told Ta Kung Pao newspaper that Article 23 will include provisions to deal with "soft resistance", as he believed discussion about this would radicalise people... There are plans to pass Article 23 next year. 

Readers may remember the Hong Kong government under then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa tried to pass this legislation in 2003, but a mass street protest resulted in it being shelved -- until now.

There is the constant comparison that other countries like the United States and Canada have national security laws too, but these democratic countries do not weaponise it like Hong Kong and China.

So far 270 people have been arrested on national security charges in Hong Kong since mid 2020, around 70 have been tried in court, and all of them found guilty, says former lawmaker and journalist Emily Lau Wai-hing.

"This is a 100 percent conviction rate. I'm not casting aspersions on anybody," she said.

However, pro-Beijing senior counsel Ronny Tong Ka-wah claims the city continues to uphold free speech, saying: "Rest assured you can say anything you like in Hong Kong."

Lau says NSL has 100 percent conviction rate

Hard to believe Tong, previously a democrat who co-founded the Civic Party before doing a 180-degree turn towards Beijing.

In any event, there are concerns that the existence of "soft resistance" in Hong Kong gives Beijing a mandate for further repression in the city in a bid to extract complete submission.

"It's almost as if the government is saying the word 'patriot' is code for you agree with us. If you agree with us, then you can be in the district council, you can be in LegCo, you can be in the election committee and all these things. But if you don't agree with us, then you're resisting," says John Burns, an honorary professor of politics and public administration at the University of Hong Kong.

The people who are left in Hong Kong are seeing their space for resistance quickly diminishing... how much longer can they keep going? 

Two Prisoners Released Today

Ho was released today and greeted by supporters

Nice to see barrister Cyd Ho Sau-lan released from Lo Wu Correctional Institution today. She was met by supporters including her longtime friend Emily Lau Wai-hing, who took her out for dim sum.

Ho was in prison for 13 months for four protest-related convictions. She was most recently arrested again but not charged under the national security law for colluding with foreign forces for her part in the 612 Humanitarian Fund along with former Cardinal Joseph Zen, Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, singer Denise Ho Wan-see and academic Hui Po-keung.

Emily Lau (right) took Ho to lunch afterwards

Upon her release Ho noted much as changed since she was behind bars, that several civil society groups and media outlets have shut down, including the investigative online media FactWire yesterday.

"The last two, three years have been so tiring. The most important thing is to relax, keep your mind and body healthy," the 67-year-old said.

On the other hand another person was also released from prison, Yau Wang-tat, a young physicist who happened to be there when protester Tsang Chi-kin was shot in the abdomen in Tsuen Wan on October 1, 2019. 

Yau rushed voluntarily to Tsang help him get medical attention, but was subdued by a police officer. 

He told the officer he only wanted to help Tsang. For that Yau was convicted and sentenced to a year in prison for unlawful assembly. Originally the judge was going to sentence him for two years, but it was halved because he pleaded guilty, had no previous criminal record and had a minor role in the protests.

Yau served eight out of 12 months of his sentence

Tsang survived, but was charged with rioting and two counts for assaulting a police officer. He later jumped bail in December 2020.

Upon being released today from jail after eight months for good behaviour, Yau looked tired and skinny. He held his personal items in one bag, the other held lots of snacks, like prawn crackers and boxes of lemon tea. Apparently he spent most of his prison wages on snacks to share with his fellow inmates.

Hopefully this setback won't derail his career... seems like he has much to contribute one way or another.