Jailings of young activists and likely imprisonment of Jimmy Lai are reprehensible: Good people must speak up

^{Pro-democracy activists Ivan Lam, Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow arrive to the Eastern Court for hearing in Hong Kong, 6 July 2020
Photo: Tyrone Siu}

The jailing of Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam is reprehensible. All right-thinking people should protest against this unconscionable authoritarian act. Wong has been sentenced to be behind bars for 13 months for organising and inciting an illegal pro-democracy rally, Chow for 10 months for inciting and attending, and Lam for seven months for incitement. There is a grey area, however. The police should be able to refuse permission for a demonstration if they have reason to believe it will cause too much disruption or lead to violence. That said our three activists have been given sentences that are far too harsh.

^{Joshua Wong and Ivan Lam boarding a police van. Now they will be in prison for many months. Photo: AFP}

The last Governor Chris Patten said the judgments are “another grim example of China’s determination to put Hong Kong in handcuffs”.

Next for jailing is likely to be publisher Jimmy Lai, along with two of his executives. Lai is facing trumped up charges and, refused bail, is now in prison until a hearing in April. This too is unconscionable. Freedom of the press is supposed to be guaranteed in Hong Kong. More than 100 police from the new national security department raided the publishing premises of the billionaire. Lai and his staff were charged with fraud on the flimsy allegation they had misused Next Digital’s office space for other purposes.

^{Publisher Jimmy Lai is likely to be jailed too.}

There is not a shadow of doubt that the mailed fist of the Chinese Communist Party is behind this repression. For confirmation you have only to read minion Carrie Lam’s policy address. She bluntly says her Government is controlled by and accountable to Beijing. Does she ever stand up for Hong Kong to her mainland bosses? Perhaps in private, but there is no sign of it publicly. The accusation she is a mere puppet does not seem to bother her.

Freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of the press, all are hallmarks of a decent open society. It is increasingly obvious that the CCP aims to squash all independent activity in Hong Kong. Advocates of independence pin a target to their own backs. The CCP and its agencies are coming for you. If the Beijing leaders were not so maniacally bent on stamping out anything they deem subversive they would tolerate those who speak out for full autonomy for Hong Kong, except for defence or foreign affairs, within a federated China. This is commonsense recipe for the Greater China of the future.

Right-thinking people of Hong Kong should speak up. They should protest, peacefully. Their freedoms are disappearing before their eyes.