Civic Groups Rally in Taipei for Jailed Hong Kong Activists

Taiwanese civic groups organized a rally in Taipei on March 15, 2024, to support jailed Hong Kong democracy advocates Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung. The demonstrators urged the Hong Kong government to release both activists immediately and unconditionally. Lee and Chow, who previously served as chairperson and vice chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, have been held in pre-trial detention since September 9, 2021, facing charges of “inciting subversion of state power” under the controversial National Security Law imposed in 2020.

The charges stem from their alleged involvement in organizing an unauthorized assembly to commemorate the victims of the June 4, 1989, Tiananmen Square Massacre. This assembly was held annually from 1990 until 2020 at Victoria Park in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai District, which has since been restricted by the government. Although their trials were initially scheduled to begin in May, they have faced multiple delays, with the latest postponement set for January 22, 2025.

The rally took place in Ximending, a vibrant district in Taipei, where nonprofit organizations and supporters of Hong Kong democracy gathered to express solidarity with Lee and Chow, as well as other political prisoners in Hong Kong. Participants called for the immediate release of the activists and the dismissal of all charges against them. They also demanded the abolition of laws perceived to infringe on human rights in Hong Kong, including the National Security Law and Article 23 of the Basic Law.

Among the speakers was Lee Ming-che, a Taiwanese human rights advocate who was the first Taiwanese citizen arrested and imprisoned in China for “subverting state power.” He highlighted that Lee Cheuk-yan had previously stated that any criticism of the Chinese government’s human rights record was viewed as subversion. It was particularly poignant that Lee Ming-che, who returned to Taiwan in 2022 after serving a prison sentence in China, attended the rally to advocate for the release of Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow.

“If peacefully holding a candlelight vigil for the June 4 incident in Hong Kong can lead to charges of subversion, it is evident that a regime like the People’s Republic of China should not exist in a modern civilized society,” Lee Ming-che stated.

Chiu Yu-bin, an executive committee member of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, remarked that the actions of Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung were legal in Taiwan. He urged Taiwanese citizens to remember that social movements in Hong Kong have historically supported Taiwan’s democracy movements for over 40 years. He noted that Taiwan had many prisoners of conscience during its martial law period from 1949 to 1987, and that Hong Kongers had often been the voice for human rights issues.

Workers’ rights in Taiwan have also been influenced by Hong Kong’s labor movements, which provided a model for legal protections, such as minimum wage laws. Chiu emphasized the importance of recognizing this historical connection.

Project manager Hu Chia-ying from the New School for Democracy expressed concern over the denial of all bail applications for Lee and Chow, viewing their imprisonment as a form of ongoing punishment. She highlighted the broader implications of the Chinese government’s repression of free speech, noting that this challenge extends beyond Hong Kong to the entire free world.

“We are paying attention to Hong Kong not just out of sympathy, but also to bolster Taiwan’s defense of democracy,” Hu stated. She underscored the need for Taiwanese people to strengthen their social resilience, cautioning that complacency could lead to a resurgence of authoritarianism. “We must defend against authoritarianism and safeguard a pluralistic society and freedom of speech,” she added.

The rally in Taipei not only served as a platform for advocating the release of Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung but also reflected a deeper commitment to defending democratic values and human rights in the face of increasing authoritarianism in the region.