Senior Hong Kong democrats found guilty in landmark unlawful assembly case

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A Hong Kong court found seven prominent democrats guilty of unauthorised assembly charges, including 82-year-old barrister Martin Lee and media tycoon Jimmy Lai, as part of an intensifying crackdown by China on its freest city.

Democratic Party founder and barrister Martin Lee and Albert Ho arrive at the West Kowloon Courts for verdicts in landmark unlawful assembly case, in Hong Kong, China April 1, 2021. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

“I have found after trial the prosecution able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that all of the defendants together organised what amounted to an unauthorised assembly,” the district court judge noted in the full written judgement.Although Hong Kong’s mini-constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, Woodcock added, “restrictions are imposed, including those for preserving public safety and public order, and protecting the rights of others.

A small group of supporters displayed banners outside the West Kowloon court building, including one that read “Oppose Political Persecution”.During the trial, defence lawyers argued that freedom of assembly is a constitutional right in Hong Kong, and noted that police had approved the peaceful demonstration in the city’s downtown Victoria Park, which grew into an unauthorised march as numbers swelled into the hundreds of thousands.

The 2019 pro-democracy protests were spurred by Beijing’s tightening squeeze on wide-ranging freedoms promised to Hong Kong upon its return to Chinese rule in 1997, and plunged the semi-autonomous city into its biggest crisis since the handover.

 

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That's because they are Democrats and they were trying to do the right thing for their country and all the people of Hong Kong. Instead they got punished for it! Hong Kong don't like it when people start to realize that they have rights and fight for what they need!

This judgement will be criticised around the world. Even as the right to protest, to assemble peacefully is under attack in many countries

Hong Kong is no longer Hong Kong, it’s China. The expat community is leaving in droves. The Chinese are destroying the colony

...get ride of all Hong Kong democrats to complete the transformation. Who's next?

If justice is not served, traitors like Jimmy Lai didn't get to pay the price for their act of treachery, it'd be a huge blow to all the law-abiding citizens in HK. See all familiar faces in the pic taken in 2013? Of course it was JUST a regular dinner, Lai is innocent! 😂😂😂

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Veteran Hong Kong democrats found guilty in landmark unlawful assembly caseA Hong Kong court found seven prominent democrats guilty of unauthorised assembly charges, including 82-year-old barrister Martin Lee and media tycoon Jimmy Lai, 72, the latest blow to the city's beleaguered democracy movement. Allies and partners coerced by CCP anticipate efficient Biden Admin to take decisive actions Remove all financial institutions in China, Hong Kong and Macau off the SWIFT list. Off hooks thoroughly from China Military containment to China Formal Recognition of Taiwan Hong Kong is no longer Hong Kong, it’s China. The expat community is leaving in droves. The Chinese are destroying the colony So old so evil
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »