This phones rang on Friday, one month earlier than expected. More than 50 politicians and activists who have pro-democracy across Hong Kong have received a call from the government: they would report to the police on Sunday.
Many expected to be charged and detained for long prison terms, and this past weekend they made last-minute preparations. They selected books to arrest, arranged for pets to be cared for, and said goodbye to their loved ones. Tiffany Yuen, 27, spent the day at home, where she was photographed hug a Buzz Lightyear toy, before visiting voters in Tin Wan.
“When the police called, I knew it was bad news,” said one, who spent most of the weekend relaxing with his child. “I probably won’t be able to hold my child for a few years. I said, ‘You might not see Dad for a few years. You have to be brave and take care of mommy. ‘”
“I never thought things would get to this point,” he said on condition of anonymity, fearing that his comments would be used as further evidence under national law against him. The legislation, introduced in Hong Kong in June, punishes acts considered by the authorities to be undermining, secession, collusion with foreign powers or terrorism with life imprisonment.
“I do not know what kind of One Country Two systems it is,” he said, referring to the policy aimed at upholding Hong Kong’s freedoms and rights under Chinese rule after the transfer of sovereignty in 1997.
“Now even the mildest forms of opposition – singing slogans and wearing certain color masks – are seen as a possible violation of the National Security Act,” he said. “The red line is constantly shifting – we feel very insecure.”
In a dawn attack on January 6 that sent shock waves through Hong Kong, 55 pro-democracy figures from Hong Kong, from former lawmakers, local district councilors to young fighters and activists, were arrested for the primary polls held last year. The extensive police crackdown was the largest single operation carried out under the controversial national security law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing last year.
Hong Kong police on Sunday charged 47 of them with conspiracy to commit undermining and detained them before appearing in court on Monday. Prosecutors allege that they planned to select candidates who could win a majority of the 70 legislative seats in an election – which would later be postponed by the government – and then scientifically block to “paralyze” parliament and the resignation of to force the CEO.
They were detained and appear in bail hearings for marathons that were offered most of the week. Some fainted from fatigue, while others complained that they could not change clothes for a few days.
Some of the most prominent political figures have announced their departure from their democratic political party to indicate that they are eligible for bail. On Thursday, the judge denied bail to 32. As of Friday, 11 of the 15 granted bail have remained in custody pending the immediate appeal of the government. The bail denied includes veteran politicians Claudia Mo, Eddie Chu and Gary Fan, who have often been criticized as too moderate by younger activists.
The judge banned the media from reporting on arguments made by both sides during the bail hearing, during which the accused delivered speeches that drove families and even journalists to tears.
Accused of ‘conspiracy to undermine state power’, the 47 face life imprisonment if convicted. The eight who have not been charged so far – including U.S. Attorney John Clancey, pro-democracy lawmakers James To and Roy Kwong – have extended their bail until May 4.
The operation now leaves almost every major voice of discord in Hong Kong in custody or in jail.
The sudden arrests came days after Xia Baolong, the head of the Hong Kong and Macau business office, said that those who ‘oppose China and cause chaos in Hong Kong’ should be banished from public office. Xia told a high-level symposium on February 22 that the “extremely vicious people”, including Apple Daily detainee Jimmy Lai, law academy Benny Tai and prison activist Joshua Wong, should also be “severely punished” “, according to a published transcript by Beijing-backed Bauhinia magazine. Chinese officials also stressed that the new laws would ensure that only ‘patriots’ could rule Hong Kong.
The speed and extent of the action against the democracy camp shocked even the most experienced politicians. Many expected the National Security Act to initially be only those involved in violent protests, or proponents of independence, and believed that China would tolerate some pro-democracy politicians for the sake of window decoration.
“It was a big surprise to be charged with undermining,” said 79-year-old U.S. attorney John Clancey, who came to Hong Kong more than 50 years ago as a Catholic priest. “I never foresaw it.”
“It is clear that they are clearly saying that they only want to rule patriotic people in Hong Kong, … they want to exclude anyone from the democratic camp,” said Clancey, who was the first foreign citizen detained under a comprehensive national law . He was the cashier for Power of Democracy, an organizer of the primaries.
‘A free and safe city degenerates’
Since the enactment of the National Security Act, the authorities have put pressure on the judiciary, media, schools and universities and civil society in general, including churches and non-governmental organizations, as media supported in Beijing increasingly on judges, professors, school teachers tormented and saw church pastors as pro-democracy.
Emily Lau, a veteran politician and former chairman of the Democratic Party, laments the muted voices of dissent in the city that once boasted a bastion of freedoms in the region.
“Hong Kong as we know it is crumbling before our eyes,” Lau said. “It is discouraging to see a once vibrant, free and secure city degenerate into its current state.”
‘Beijing may decide to eliminate the dissenting voices, but it will be a big mistake. Allowing different voices in Hong Kong is part of the city’s strengths and shows that Beijing is willing to tolerate opposing views. ”
While the National People’s Congress convened its annual meeting in Beijing this week, officials say the core of the overhaul of Hong Kong’s electoral system is important to ensure that the city is run by ‘patriots’.
Kenneth Chan, a professor of political science at Baptist University of Hong Kong, said the repression would send the message to the world that ‘the policy’ One Country, Two Systems’ was prematurely ended. “
“There is no limit to a populist authoritarian pursuit of ‘political purity’ to bring the city under total subjugation,” he said.
We have now made ‘trials’ to give the Democrats examples of how the party state fights and struggles with the enemies … To “legalize” the political struggle is the Leninist legal tradition, whereby the Chinese government as the law as a mere instrument to facilitate the Party agenda, ”he said, referring to party rulings emphasizing that“ the implementation of the law is the will of the party. ”
“The message to the world is that Beijing will not succumb to pressure from the Western coalition on human rights violations in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, etc.,” said Willy Lam, an assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, still face persecution by protesting outside the courtroom this week and with the words “Give us justice!” amid heavy police presence.
“You can not live in fear … I would not stop working for fear,” Clancey said. “In perfect love there is no fear.”