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Edward Leung (archive image)
Photo: Vincent Yu/AP
Independence activist Edward Leung Tin-kei has been released from prison in Hong Kong after nearly four years.
The SAR Department of Corrections announced on Wednesday that the activist arrested in 2018 was released from the maximum security prison in the early hours of the morning.
The 30-year-old was one of the leaders of the 2016 independence movement in the economic metropolis.
He was the face of the Hong Kong Indigenous group and ran for a by-election to the city council in 2016. Leung was jailed for his alleged involvement in 2016 riots. The activist, who was born in Wuhan in mainland China, was initially attacked by pro-democracy advocates for his support for Hong Kong's independence. His campaign slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Time" nonetheless became the rallying cry of pro-democracy activists during the violent 2019 riots.
After his release, Leung said, "After four years, I want to enjoy the precious time I have with my family and lead a normal life again." He added that he will "stay away from the limelight and stop using social media" as he is required by law to comply with a "surveillance order."
Since Leung's imprisonment, the situation for pro-independence advocates in Hong Kong has deteriorated significantly: Since Beijing passed a harsh "security law" for Hong Kong in the summer of 2020, the government and judiciary have been taking action against the democratic opposition.
They base this on the vague law, which targets activities that China deems subversive, separatist, terrorist or conspiracy.
With the “security law”, the government is also increasingly taking action against critical media, which have to close one after the other.
Standing up for Hong Kong's secession from China is now punishable by a prison sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment.
mrc/AFP