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Seven Hong Kong activists jailed over unauthorised protest in 2020 By Reuters

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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO Figo Chan, a pro-democracy activist, gestures to a van as he heads to the courthouse to face charges related to an illegal assembly that took place on October 1, 2019. This was in Hong Kong (China), May 28, 2021. REUTERS/Lam Yik

By Jessie Pang

HONG KONG, (Reuters) – Seven Hong Kong democracy activists, including ex-legislators, were sentenced to up to twelve months imprisonment for participating in a demonstration against a broad national security law imposed last year by China.

They pleaded guilty in court to organizing the July 1st, 2020 unauthorised gathering that saw thousands protesters take to the streets. To disperse the protesters, police used tear gas and water cannon, despite having banned demonstrations citinbg coronavirus restraints.

Figo Chan was a former convenor of Civil Human Rights Front, (CHRF); Tang Sai-lai of League of Social Democrats and Tsang Kin-shing of League of Social Democrats. Andy Chui was a former district councillor. Leung Kwok-hung and Eddie Chu were former legislators.

Chan was sent to prison for twelve months. The sentences of the other inmates ranged from six months to ten years.

Douglas Yau, a judge, stated that the nature of incitement is serious and it poses a risk to violence.

Beijing passed a national security bill on June 30th last year in response to protests that had erupted throughout the country. China created the law in response to widespread anti-government protests that erupted in 2019.

Although the protest was held the following day, it was the first day of the new law. However, civil society groups have been holding deminstrations since July 1, for many years, to advocate various issues including democracy rights.

With the promise of its freedoms and autonomy, Hong Kong accepted Chinese rule in 1997. Beijing and Hong Kong officials have denied any attempts to limit freedoms and human rights.

“We could only choose civil disobedience… a peaceful, rational and non-violent way to express our demand against the national security law,” Figo Chan said in mitigation.

“I pleaded guilty to civil disobedience in order to maintain the belief that it is possible to be civil.”

According to police, at least 370 persons were arrested for illegal assembly and related offences that day. Ten of these offenses involved violations of the security code.

Tong Yingkit, who was first to be convicted in accordance with the national security laws, was sentenced in July for inciting violence and terrorist activities.

He was charged with driving his motorcycle into police on that particular day, while carrying the flag bearing the anti-protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong” Revolution of our Times

Security Bureau says that over 150 people were arrested for violating the national security law. 100 have been charged.

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