After twenty years, jail sentence was served the second
time to demonstrators. The first time is just before the
Hong Kong Handover, it was repealed after appeal, and
now the second time. This is another clear evidence that
the freedom of expression was endangered.
Political activists Leung Kwok Hung and Cheng Ki Kin
were sentenced 14 days imprisonment on 11th May
1999 at a district court for breaching the order of
Legislative Council, but were given a suspension of one
year. They would be put in jail if they commit any crime
within one year. This is a great challenge for them in their
future political activities on the street, as Leung Kwok
Hung and others have been charging on several
occasions by the police during their demonstrations after
Hong Kong's Change Over in 1997, and they were
found guilty and fines were punished. The two
committed would easily be charge another time and they
would serve imprisonment. Leung is thinking whether he
will make an appeal to the High Court, and financial cost
is the main factor for his consideration. This case will
have implications to other activists too. The activists,
already scarce in number, will re-think their involvement
as they realize now that their participation in political
actions would sacrifice their freedom.
Leung told Hong Kong Voice of Democracy that he,
and the police, were totally surprised at the severity of
the sentence, as only a fine was expected. He claimed
that in last October he just shouted slogans during the
speech of the Chief Executive at the Legislative Council,
protesting the Government did not help the poor, the
proceeding of the Council was suspended for a few
minutes, there was no actual harm or any actual effect on
the proceeding of the Council. He said if every time
demonstrators were sentenced imprisonment, no one
would join political activities on the street.
Despite the significance of Leung's sentence, it was not
covered in the two local English newspapers except
some Chinese presses.
|
