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“Draconian laws” are no solution, says former Hong Kong politician in subversion trial

Ng's intransigent stance is unusual among the 45 opposition leaders convicted of conspiracy to subvert state power, many of whom are demanding a reduction in their potentially lengthy prison sentences in crucial mitigation hearings that resumed after a month-and-a-half adjournment due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

He is one of 31 defendants who admitted to the charge of participating in an unofficial primary election. Choice in July 2020.
The trio of judges, personally selected by the Chief Executive to hear cases under the security law, 14 more convicted after concluding that the primaries were an integral part of a plan to paralyze the government and create a constitutional crisis by indiscriminately blocking its financial budgets.

Ng, who did not have legal representation, said he was involved in politics because he hoped to prevent an erosion of personal freedoms, expressing his disapproval of “arrogant” officials.

He added that he also wanted to represent the voices of those who took their own lives during the anti-government protests in 2019.

“Overbearing governance, draconian laws and harsh punishments can at best provide a stopgap solution. Society must find a way to solve its deep-rooted problems so that it can reconcile and achieve stability and prosperity,” he said.

Judges Andrew Chan Hing-wai and Alex Lee Wan-tang were seen resting their heads on their hands for most of the defendant's hour-long speech.

Chan warned that Ng's sentence reduction “should be significantly lower than the others” due to his late confession and lack of remorse.

Lee also expressed concern about the risk of the defendant reoffending, citing comments in which he said he hoped to make a contribution to Hong Kong after his release, despite the “many difficulties” he expected.

The court also heard pleas for mitigation from four former lawmakers – Andrew Wan Siu-kin, Kwok Ka-ki, Eddie Chu Hoi-dick and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung – as well as activists Sam Cheung Ho-sum and Prince Wong Ji-yuet, who is serving a prison sentence. a riot offense.
Leung Kwok-hung was one of the participants in the hearings on mitigation grounds in this high-profile trial. Photo: Winson Wong
Lawyer Tina Mok Yin-ting, representing Wan, asked the court to take into account her client’s decades of public service and his good character despite his previous brushes with the law.

She highlighted the former Democratic Party MP's contributions to the introduction of old-age benefits and reduced fares for the disabled.

In letters of mitigation written on Wan's behalf, former labour and welfare ministers Stephen Sui Wai-keung and Law Chi-kwong and former transport and housing minister Anthony Cheung Bing-leung praised the ex-legislator's “great passion for helping the underprivileged and vulnerable” and his peaceful and sensible approach to tackling social problems.

Senior lawyer Edwin Choy Wai-bond also drew the court’s attention to the social contribution and “undeniably positive character” of his client Kwok, who formerly worked for the now-defunct Citizens Party.
Choy said the doctor-turned-politician has dedicated himself over the years to improving the city’s medical care and has shown his commitment to peace and non-violence by trying to prevent further violence and restoring order at two protests in 2019.

In a letter to the court, Leung described his decades-long pursuit of freedom and democracy and said only a dominant majority in parliament could “put enough pressure on the government to implement social measures that benefit people's livelihoods.”

The experienced politician said he could not complain about the situation he was in and stressed that if the government's work had actually come to a standstill due to an opposition-controlled parliament, it would have been the fault of the city's head.

The court is expected to hear arguments on Wednesday from lawyers representing activist Carol Ng Man-yee and former district councillors Roy Tam Hoi-pong and Ricky Or Yiu-lam.

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