Hong Kong 7 Democracy Advocates Sentenced to 1‑Year Jails After 2019 Riot
In a case that feels almost like a courtroom drama starring real‑life activists, seven former leaders of Hong Kong’s pro‑democracy movement got their hands on the sentence pad on September 1. Each of them will spend between 11 and 16 months locked up for their part in the “unauthorised assembly” that rattled the city last summer.
What Went Down on Oct 20, 2019
Picture this: tens of thousands march through the streets, chanting, waving banners, while the police unleash tear gas and water cannons in a bid to break the wave. The raucous protest turned into a flashpoint that would later become a golden ticket for imprisonment.
The Seven Main Players
- Figo Chan – former convenor of the now‑disbanded Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF)
- Raphael Wong – League of Social Democrats
- Avery Ng – League of Social Democrats
- Cyd Ho – former legislator
- Yeung Sum – former legislator
- Albert Ho – former legislator
- Long Hair (Leung Kwok‑hung) – famed protest icon
All but Raphaël Wong were already serving jail time from other get‑out‑of‑jail rops. However, the court’s latest verdict is a reminder that the “mini‑constitution” of Hong Kong, which promises freedom of assembly, is still far from “absolute” – especially when people try to shove it past the limits of public safety and order.
Judge Amanda Woodcock’s Take
“I’m not denying that people can demonstrate, but those rights have a ceiling,” said Judge Woodcock. She pointed out that the police’s tear gas and water‑cannon move was a “public safety” measure. Those same moves, however, can be turned into sentences that look a little harsher.
Why These Sentences Matter
They are the newest notes in the latest “indictment of dissent” to be turned up against Hong Kong citizens who fled free‑speech into the 2019 summer. The whole drama began after Beijing tightened its grip on this former British colony, with a state security law that critics say has closed the door on opposition.
“We’re Facing Political Prosecution”
“We hope everyone understands that this is political prosecution,” said Chan Po‑ying, chairwoman of the League of Social Democrats, stepping out of the courthouse. A call for empathy and a plea that the law should not be a sword against ordinary voices.
Through all the irony — a “mini‑constitution” meeting a piece of mainland law — the seven men and women stand at the crossroads of hope and fear, a reminder that even in a global financial hub, jail can become an unexpected chapter of a story.
