Two Former Hong Kong Lawmakers Draw Four‑Week Jail Sentences
In a twist that feels like a scene straight out of a political drama, Baggio Leung and Yau Wai‑ching—fired‑up independence fighters who lost their seats back in 2016—were handed a four‑week prison term Monday (June 4). The punishment came after they stirred up a chaos‑filled shuffle in the Legislative Council (LegCo) that left lawmakers scrambling to keep their session on track.
What Went Down
- The duo tried to walk into a LegCo meeting in November 2016, prompting security to back them out.
- They and a handful of supporters then pushed into a committee room where the session was being relocated.
- The crew ran head‑first into a melee with security officers—at least three staff members ended up in the hospital, and the police were called in.
- Despite the public voting them in, the pair were never allowed to take their seats after a protest at the swearing‑in ceremony. They even shouted swearing‑out phrases and unfolded “Hong Kong is not China” flags.
The Court’s Verdict
Judge Wong Sze‑lai declared that Leung and Yau “directly hurt the dignity of the Legislative Council.” The judge listed their guilt under unlawful assembly and attempted forcible entry—charges that the activists denied. The defendants were given bail pending appeal but found themselves still cuffed in custody until a court decision on their bail money.
Why the Big Push for Independence Has Been So Intense
Beijing has been on edge ever since Hong Kong activists started demanding a full split from China, fearing that the city’s once‑celebrated freedoms are slipping beneath a tightening grip. The Chinese government has cracked down hard on any pro‑independence sentiment. The duo’s sentence reflects that top‑down clampdown and the last line in the governor’s playbook: whoever does not recite the oath exactly, or fails to do so with sincerity, gets booted.
Looking Ahead
High on the horizon is the 29th anniversary of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, set to be remembered with a vigil in Victoria Park this Monday evening. For the first time on mainland China, officials allow the anniversary to be publicly marked, giving the protest movement a sliver of space to breathe.
In short, Hong Kong’s two emblematic figures now serve a short jail term—proof that, while the push for independence isn’t going away, the crackdown remains as relentless as ever.
