Is anyone safe from political persecution, prosecution or investigation anymore in Hong Kong?

Spectre of Pooh in the city

 

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) says it has lifted a campus ban previously imposed on 18 of its student council's members (even while confirming the ban for some other students).  I'm not sure how much this action can help to restore the university's tarnished reputation.  Also, I'm sure this is cold comfort to Kinson Cheung, Anthony Yung, Charles Kwok and Chris Todorovski, the four HKU students currently being held in custody after being charged with advocating terrorism -- because they led their student council to express sadness about the death of a man who had stabbed a police officer and then killed himself -- and denied bail.  

 

Still, I suppose it's a welcome dialing back of the excessive punitive action that the authorities look to be fond of these days.  In addition, it would seem to give out some hope that retreats are still possible on some fronts and that sometimes, sanity actually can prevail -- as in the case involving entertainer-activist Anthony Wong Yiu-ming last month.     

 

Let's hope that also will be the case for Anthony Wong's fellow entertainer-activist, Denise Ho.  As things stand though, the knives appear to be out for her -- and she effectively suffered a double attack yesterday: first, with the Hong Kong Arts Centre cancelling her venue booking for a series of concerts which she was due to headline this September 8th to 12th, citing the possibility that "Public order or public safety would be endangered during the course of the performance"; and then with the news that the police are investigating the 612 Humanitarian Fund of which she's a trustee -- and that's been helping people involved with the pro-democracy protests -- over suspected national security breaches.

 

With regards to the former: It's worth noting that Denise Ho has performed at the Hong Kong Coliseum before, with nothing untoward having happened to her, her fellow musicians, her crew and her audience as well as her applications to perform in a number of other venues have been rejected in recent years.  Also, that the Hong Kong Arts Centre has historically been seen as open to, if not outright supporting of, entertainers and cultural programs that embrace free expression and free speech.  

 

On a personal note: I've viewed works like Tiananmen Square documentary The Gates of Heavenly Peace and Nagisa Oshima's controversial In the Realm of the Senses (1976) as well as Kiwi Chow's Beyond the Dream (2019) there!  So I think it'd be safe to assume that some pressure was exerted on the Hong Kong Arts Centre to cancel Denise Ho's venue booking along the lines of what happened to get Golden Scene Cinema to cancel the screening of protest documentary Inside the Red Brick Wall back in March.  

 

With regards to the latter: the blogger over at Big Lychee, Various Sectors has wondered what will happen to the undoubted thousands of donors to the 612 Humanitarian Fund whose particulars are now being sought after by the police.  "If the NatSec cops do get hold of their details, will donors get a 6.00 am knock on the door? Will they be put under surveillance? Will the authorities inform their employers? Will employers – Vitasoy, say – feel the need to fire them?"  

 

Suffice to say that none of these actions are beyond the realm of possibility in 2021 Hong Kong.  Ditto re the freezing of donors' bank accounts.  In any case, here's a reminder, well articulated over on Twitter by Xun-ling Au, that: "The 612 fund helped defend justice & rights within the system. Bail, defence & legal services, all legal things. The fact that they are being politically targeted speaks volumes about the state of justice & rights now in HK."

 

Continuing the discussion of the state of justice and rights now in Hong Kong: In a now all too expected move, seven democrats were given sentences of a minimum of 11 months imprisonment yesterday for their roles in an unauthorized protest back in October 2019.  As it so happens, six of the defendants (former legislators "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung, Cyd Ho, Albert Ho and Yeung Sum along with activists Avery Ng and Figo Chan) are already serving prison time.  So it's just Raphael Wong -- who stated as part of his mitigation speech that "The march in Kowloon on October 20 was certainly an opportunity to reflect public opinion. Now, by imposing heavy penalties on us, the court is only punishing public opinion… suffocating the freedom of expression" -- who will be newly incarcerated.

 

Speaking ahead of the sentencing, Chan Po-ying, the head of the League of Social Democrats (to which Raphael Wong, "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung, Avery Ng and Jimmy Shum also belong) pointed out that sentencing for charges related to unauthorised assemblies have become heavier, since previously, defendants would receive a fine, if that, instead of prison terms.  And so it proved.

 

As one of the sentenced, Avery Ng, stated: "Where once there was the space to disagree agreeably and debate ideas honestly. Now there is intolerance... Every day brings a new re-interpretation of the rules… The inevitable question arises: Whose security is being protected – the liberty of citizens? Or are these laws in fact protecting and securing the power of the already-powerful?  [Also, w]hat kind of order are we seeking? Are these laws designed to uphold the rule of law, ensure freedom, a level playing field, and the chance of prosperity for all citizens? Or are they meant to usher in an era in which the government can rule unchallenged and unchecked?”" And yes, I think it's safe to surmise that those are just rhetorical questions on his part!