Another 4 Hong Kong democrats freed after being jailed over unofficial primary election
Four more Hong Kong opposition figures have been released from prison after serving more than four years following their convictions in the city's largest national security case.
Former district councillors Jimmy Sham, Kinda Li, Roy Tam, and Henry Wong left prison early Friday morning in seven-seater vehicles with curtains drawn and went directly to their residences, according to local media reports.
Li and Wong were released from Stanley Prison, Sham from Shek Pik Prison, and Tam from Pik Uk Prison, according to local media citing unnamed sources.
The four were the second batch of 45 democrats released from jail after being sentenced to four years and three months behind bars.
Sham, a prominent LGBTQ activist before he was jailed, arrived at his home in Jordan at 6.26am carrying two big bags. He wore a black T-shirt featuring cartoon characters holding a rainbow flag and the words 'The Grand Parade.'
Plainclothes and uniformed police officers deployed around Sham's home prevented reporters from entering the building where he lives.
When asked by reporters whether he was banned from making a statement to the press, Sham smiled and said in Cantonese: 'I want to reserve some time for my family. See you in the afternoon.'
He entered the building without elaborating on whether he planned to make a public appearance later.
Another released democrat, Li, arrived at his home in Kwun Tong shortly before 6.15am. He was carrying one bag and wearing a face mask.
After getting out of the vehicle, he nodded at reporters at the scene and said, 'Thank you for the hard work.'
He did not respond to questions from the reporters.
Some reporters went to the housing unit stated as Li's home on court documents and knocked to ask if the former district councillor wanted to speak. There was no response and the door, which was not fully closed, was shut shortly afterwards.
Around a dozen reporters waited at Muk Min Ha Tsuen, a village in Tsuen Wan on Friday morning, which is listed as Tam's address in court documents.
At around 6.55am, a man who identified himself as the village chief of Muk Min Ha Tsuen told reporters at the scene that he had not seen Tam's wife for more than a year, and that they may have moved out.
Local media outlet The Collective reported on Friday that a private vehicle carrying Wong arrived at the car park of his residence in Yuen Long at 6.34am. Some plainclothes police officers entered the building lobby before his arrival, while a few journalists waited at the scene, the report said.
The Friday release arrangement was similar to that given to four former lawmakers released last month – Claudia Mo, Gary Fan, Jeremy Tam, and Kwok Ka-ki – the first group of 45 democrats discharged from prison.
The former lawmakers were sentenced to four years and two months in jail after pleading guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit subversion.
The 45 democrats were convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion over their roles in an unofficial primary election in July 2020 and sentenced in November last year.
The unofficial primary election aimed to help the pro-democracy camp win a controlling majority in the legislature.
Three judges ruled last year that the democrats had planned to use their constitutional powers to veto the government budget indiscriminately, ultimately forcing the resignation of the chief executive and a government shutdown.
This, the judges ruled, would have resulted in a 'constitutional crisis.'
With the four released on Friday, 37 democrats involved in the case are still serving prison time – including ex-law professor Benny Tai, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail.
Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.
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