The Pillar of National Sorrow｜Gao Zhihuo: 29 organizations pressure Mayer Barr, the University of Hong Kong has never responded

Mayer Brown said on October 15 that it will not continue to handle relevant issues on behalf of the University of Hong Kong on the issue of the Pillar of Death.

The Danish sculptor Jens Galschiøt, who created the Pillar of Sorrow, thanked about 29 NGOs, human rights organizations and the masses for their joint efforts to "defeat" Mayer Brown under international pressure, and bluntly believed that no other Western lawyers could do anything. Seriously damage the reputation and image of representing or assisting the Chinese government or Hong Kong organizations to suppress freedom of speech or human rights.

Gao Zhihu wrote a letter to the University of Hong Kong on October 8, stating that the Pillar of National War still belongs to him and striving to remove the work completely. However, Gao Zhihu replied to "Hong Kong 01" today (16th), stating that although Hong Kong requested that it be moved by October 13 at the latest The period of going to the Pillar of Death has expired, but he or his lawyer has not yet received a response or news from the University of Hong Kong, which is a little weird.

"Hong Kong 01" has inquired with HKU and Mayer Brown regarding the incident.

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Mayer Brown, on behalf of the University of Hong Kong, sent a letter to the Alliance of Trustees on October 7, requesting that the Pillar of National Sorrow be removed by 5 pm on October 13, otherwise it would be deemed a waiver.

The University of Hong Kong described on October 8 that the Pillar of National Death is an off-campus group, and the stake has entered the dissolution process. According to the latest risk assessment and legal opinions, it has sent a letter requesting that the exhibits be removed from the university.

However, after Mayer Brown's lawyer letter was exposed, Mayer Brown was pursued by many American politicians, and some non-governmental organizations used open letters to criticize Mayer Brown for violating its mission of bringing positive changes to the lives of Hong Kong people and demanding the suspension of its cooperative relationship with the University of Hong Kong. .

Gao Zhihuo said that if the owner of the pillar of national war is accidentally damaged or claimed

The Danish sculptor Jens Galschiøt, who created the Pillar of Death, also wrote to the University of Hong Kong on October 8th, expressing his early commitment to permanent exhibition of the Pillar of Death at the University of Hong Kong, but in principle it still belongs to him, reiterating that the work is extremely precious ( Extremely valuable), it may be a bit fragile after being placed for 24 years. If it is handled by a non-art expert, it is very likely to suffer irreparable damage. Therefore, it will take time for him to move. In case of accidental damage to the sculpture, he will not rule out claiming compensation from the University of Hong Kong.

The University of Hong Kong responded to the media on October 13, stating that it will continue to seek legal advice on this matter and will deal with the matter on a legal and reasonable basis.

After Mayer Brown's letter was exposed, the law firm was pursued by many politicians in the United States. Some non-governmental organizations used open letters to criticize Mayer Brown for violating its mission of bringing positive changes to the lives of Hong Kong people and demanding that the partnership with the University of Hong Kong be suspended.

(Screenshot of letter)

Gao Zhihuo issued a statement on October 14, stating that the time limit set by the University of Hong Kong for the relocation of the Pillar of Death had expired, but neither the University of Hong Kong nor the Mayer Brown contacted him or his lawyer (Neither I nor my lawyer have been contacted by Hong Kong). Kong University or Mayer Brown).

He believes that the University of Hong Kong is the capital of Hong Kong and prohibiting the display of the important symbol of China's suppression of students in Tiananmen Square (the Pillar of National Sorrow) will become a stain on the University of Hong Kong's reputation.

And he also needs time to think about whether the Pillar of National Sorrow can be legally left in Hong Kong, or he himself can come to Hong Kong to dismantle the Pillar of National Sorrow and move it to other places.

Foreign media: Mayer Brown no longer represents the U.K.'s pillar of national death

The Washington Post and Reuters reported that Mayer Brown, which once described the issue of the Pillar of Death as "a real estate matter", will no longer represent its long-term clients (ie, the University of Hong Kong) on ​​this issue, saying that there will be no further Response.

The Danish sculptor Jens Galschiøt who created the Pillar of Death.

Gao Zhihuo: 29 NGOs Join Forces to Put International Pressure to "Beat" Mayer Brown

Gao Zhihuo's studio issued a statement on October 15, describing the efforts of them and a number of NGOs to "beat" Mayer Brown with international pressure.

He claimed that 29 non-governmental organizations have jointly put pressure on Mayer Fighters, including the American human rights group Visual Artists Guild, Humanitarian China, Hong Kong Watch, and Women’s Rights Without Strong Boundaries ( Women's Rights Without Frontiers), the Chinese Democratic Education Foundation (Chinese Democratic Education Foundation) and the "Hong Kong Democracy Committee", an overseas Hong Kong organization with Zhou Yongkang as the chairman of the board and Luo Guancong as the convener.

("Hong Kong Democracy Committee" facebook picture)

Gao Zhihuo’s statement on October 15 described Mayer Brown’s attempt to assist China in combating Hong Kong’s democracy as "extreme hypocrisy." The incident proved that as long as the masses are willing to raise your voice against injustice (worth raising your voice against injustice), they can also " Conquer" International Law Firm.

He believes that as Mayer Brown is "defeated", it is almost impossible for other Western law firms to represent or assist the Chinese government or Hong Kong organizations in suppressing freedom of speech or human rights, otherwise their reputation and image will be seriously damaged.

Gao Zhihuo's personal reply 01: No response from the University of Hong Kong so far

Gao Zhihuo replied to "Hong Kong 01" this afternoon (16th), stating that he and his lawyer have not received any news or response from the University of Hong Kong, which is strange.

The members of the Student Union of the University of Hong Kong, as usual, wash the pillars of national sorrow every year.

(Photo by Zhang Haowei)

"Pillars of National Sorrow" as early as November 3, 1998, was approved by the Hong Kong University Student Union referendum for permanent placement. On the evening of June 4, 1999, it was transported from Victoria Park to Hong Kong University to witness the development of democracy and human rights in Hong Kong after its return to China. , And Gao Zhihuo came to Hong Kong from September 26 to October 2, 2013 to repair the "Pillar of National Sorrow" and repaint it in orange.

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Pillar of National Warfare | Mayer Brown announces that it will no longer represent the University of Hong Kong in handling related matters

Luo Zhiguang: Every situation has come and go. Gao Zhihu is willing to come to Hong Kong to dismantle the sculpture of the Pillar of National War | The sculptor Gao Zhihu asks the University of Hong Kong for time and plans to move to Europe and the United States. It is more appropriate for Ren Gao Zhihuo to contact the Pillar of National Sorrow and stay with the Unidentified Stake. Reiterate that the artist Gao Zhihu owns the school and should contact Gao Zhihuo: I have written to the University of Hong Kong requesting a hearing to transport the "Pillar of National Sorrow" out of Hong Kong.