Instant International
Written by: Li Xiukun
2021-03-01 12:51
Last update date: 2021-03-01 12:55
Forty-seven Hong Kong democrats were accused of violating the Hong Kong National Security Act in the primary election. On February 28, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Hong Kong for detaining and prosecuting pan-democrats, calling for their immediate release.
Brinken posted on Twitter on February 28 that political participation and free expression of opinions should not be criminal acts, and that the United States and Hong Kong people stand together.
We condemn the detention of and charges filed against pan-democratic candidates in Hong Kong's elections and call for their immediate release. Political participation and freedom of expression should not be crimes. The US stands with the people of Hong Kong.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 1, 2021
Lan Taowen also said on Twitter on the same day that the charges are deeply disturbing, showing that the most unmodified provisions of the National Security Law have been used to eliminate dissidents rather than restore order, contrary to what the Chinese government has promised.
The decision to charge 47 Hong Kong politicians & activists for subversion under the NSL is deeply disturbing. It shows in the starkest terms the NSL being used to eliminate political dissent rather than restore order-contrary to what the Chinese Government promised
— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) February 28, 2021
The European Union also posted a post on Facebook earlier on the same day, saying that it was seriously concerned about the incident involving 47 people. This shows that legitimate political pluralism will no longer be tolerated in Hong Kong.
-The charges laid on 28 February against 47 pro-democracy candidates who took part in primary elections last July is of...
Posted by European Union in Hong Kong and Macao on Sunday, February 28, 2021
47 Hong Kong democrats accused of British Foreign Minister Lan Taowen: deeply disturbed
47 Hong Kong democrats accused of EU: serious concerns
United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Concerned about the Situation in Hong Kong Zheng Ruohua: Hong Kong's National Security Law restores social order
EU responds to Hong Kong public officials’ oath amendments alleging that they contain political bias
In January, the Hong Kong Police National Security Office arrested more than 50 people who participated in the primary elections of the pro-democracy party. They were required to report to the police station early on February 28. In the end, 47 people were charged with conspiracy to subvert state power, including Dai Yaoting, Ou Nuoxuan, etc. The coordinator of the primary election, the "protestant faction" who won the primary election in 2020, have not spared all the defendants; the Democratic Party, the Civic Party, and the Social People's Company have also been charged.
Eight people in the case have not been prosecuted for the time being, including the Democratic Party Tu Jinshen, Kwong Junyu, and former member of the health service sector Li Guolin.
The accused list is as follows:
01News
Hong Kong version of National Security Fab Lincoln United States United Kingdom European Union
