Hong Kong activist Jimmy Sham to navigate ‘red lines' after serving 4 years in jail over nat. security offence
Pro-democracy activist Jimmy Sham has said he will have to navigate Hong Kong's red lines, following his release from jail after serving more than four years over the city's largest national security case.
Speaking to reporters outside his Jordan home just before 9:30 am, Sham said that he had no plans to leave Hong Kong.
'At this point in time, I don't have plans to leave Hong Kong. At the end of the day, people who are very important to me who are still in Hong Kong,' the 37-year-old said in Cantonese.
He also said he would not comment on his experience in prison, 'because there are still many people in there.' Talking about it would not do them any good, he said.
Sham was among three other ex-district councillors who were released from prison early Friday morning, after completing their jail terms over the city's largest national security case. The four of them were sentenced to four years and three months in jail.
They were among a total of 45 pro-democracy activists who were convicted and sentenced over conspiring to commit subversion linked to an unofficial primary election.
Sham, along with Kinda Li, Roy Tam, and Henry Wong, were transported in seven-seater vehicles to their residences.
Sham served time in Shek Pik Prison. Li and Wong were released from Stanley Prison, and Tam from Pik Uk Prison, according to local media citing unnamed sources.
The four were the second batch of democrats convicted to be released from jail. Last month, former lawmakers Claudia Mo, Gary Fan, Jeremy Tam and Kwok Ka-ki returned home after completing their sentences.
Sham said: 'To be honest, I don't know what there is to say, because it's been four years [in jail], and I think I've been disconnected from society. I'm really not in a position to comment on what's going on.'
'Some things can't be said'
Asked about his plans following his release, Sham said: 'It's just my first day out, so as for what I can do in the future, where the red lines are drawn, I think I'll have to figure things out first.'
That also applied to whether he would decide to engage in LGBTQ advocacy, he told reporters.
Sham is openly gay, and brought forth a landmark LGBTQ rights case that resulted in the top court ruling in 2023 that the Hong Kong government was obliged to provide an alternative legal framework recognising same-sex relationships.
'I also miss Lek Yuen. It was always a responsibility that I never fulfilled,' he said, referring to the constituency in Sha Tin he once served as a district councillor, representing the pro-democracy party League of Social Democrats.
In response to whether the national security police had told him not to contact certain people or to be wary of them, he also said he had 'self-censored' in regards to 'sensitive questions.' He also said: 'Of course there's concerns that some things can't be said.'
Asked whether he felt he was 'free' after being released from prison, he said: 'I'm freer than I was yesterday. This is a change that I'm happy with… But there are still many people suffering, which makes me feel like I can't be too happy, so there are concerns. As for whether I'm free, that's something I'd like to know as well.'
'My expectation for myself is to remember those who are still suffering,' Sham said.
He said emotions were 'complex,' adding in English: 'I don't dare to let myself [be] too happy… I do not know what can I say, what can I do.'
'I don't know. Maybe tomorrow you can still see me, I'm free. Maybe tomorrow I'll go back to jail,' he said.
'But over the past four years, I really felt the warmth from outside the walls,' Sham said, recalling how his family would visit him in prison even when the no.8 typhoon signal was hoisted.
'I experienced a lot of unhappiness and helplessness, but [I] slowly recovered… Either way, we need to live, so let's live on,' Sham added.
Separately, Wong posted a photo of himself on Facebook at 10:42 am – his first social media update since February 28, 2021, the day the 47 democrats went into detention.
In the photo, Wong, who is smiling and wearing a white sleeveless shirt, appears leaner than his last public appearance. There was no caption accompanying the picture.
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Hong Kong activist Jimmy Sham to navigate ‘red lines' after serving 4 years in jail over nat. security offence
Pro-democracy activist Jimmy Sham has said he will have to navigate Hong Kong's red lines, following his release from jail after serving more than four years over the city's largest national security case. Speaking to reporters outside his Jordan home just before 9:30 am, Sham said that he had no plans to leave Hong Kong. 'At this point in time, I don't have plans to leave Hong Kong. At the end of the day, people who are very important to me who are still in Hong Kong,' the 37-year-old said in Cantonese. He also said he would not comment on his experience in prison, 'because there are still many people in there.' Talking about it would not do them any good, he said. Sham was among three other ex-district councillors who were released from prison early Friday morning, after completing their jail terms over the city's largest national security case. The four of them were sentenced to four years and three months in jail. They were among a total of 45 pro-democracy activists who were convicted and sentenced over conspiring to commit subversion linked to an unofficial primary election. Sham, along with Kinda Li, Roy Tam, and Henry Wong, were transported in seven-seater vehicles to their residences. Sham served time in Shek Pik Prison. Li and Wong were released from Stanley Prison, and Tam from Pik Uk Prison, according to local media citing unnamed sources. The four were the second batch of democrats convicted to be released from jail. Last month, former lawmakers Claudia Mo, Gary Fan, Jeremy Tam and Kwok Ka-ki returned home after completing their sentences. Sham said: 'To be honest, I don't know what there is to say, because it's been four years [in jail], and I think I've been disconnected from society. I'm really not in a position to comment on what's going on.' 'Some things can't be said' Asked about his plans following his release, Sham said: 'It's just my first day out, so as for what I can do in the future, where the red lines are drawn, I think I'll have to figure things out first.' That also applied to whether he would decide to engage in LGBTQ advocacy, he told reporters. Sham is openly gay, and brought forth a landmark LGBTQ rights case that resulted in the top court ruling in 2023 that the Hong Kong government was obliged to provide an alternative legal framework recognising same-sex relationships. 'I also miss Lek Yuen. It was always a responsibility that I never fulfilled,' he said, referring to the constituency in Sha Tin he once served as a district councillor, representing the pro-democracy party League of Social Democrats. In response to whether the national security police had told him not to contact certain people or to be wary of them, he also said he had 'self-censored' in regards to 'sensitive questions.' He also said: 'Of course there's concerns that some things can't be said.' Asked whether he felt he was 'free' after being released from prison, he said: 'I'm freer than I was yesterday. This is a change that I'm happy with… But there are still many people suffering, which makes me feel like I can't be too happy, so there are concerns. As for whether I'm free, that's something I'd like to know as well.' 'My expectation for myself is to remember those who are still suffering,' Sham said. He said emotions were 'complex,' adding in English: 'I don't dare to let myself [be] too happy… I do not know what can I say, what can I do.' 'I don't know. Maybe tomorrow you can still see me, I'm free. Maybe tomorrow I'll go back to jail,' he said. 'But over the past four years, I really felt the warmth from outside the walls,' Sham said, recalling how his family would visit him in prison even when the no.8 typhoon signal was hoisted. 'I experienced a lot of unhappiness and helplessness, but [I] slowly recovered… Either way, we need to live, so let's live on,' Sham added. Separately, Wong posted a photo of himself on Facebook at 10:42 am – his first social media update since February 28, 2021, the day the 47 democrats went into detention. In the photo, Wong, who is smiling and wearing a white sleeveless shirt, appears leaner than his last public appearance. There was no caption accompanying the picture.
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Four more Hong Kong opposition figures have been released from prison after serving more than four years following their convictions in the city's largest national security case. Former district councillors Jimmy Sham, Kinda Li, Roy Tam, and Henry Wong left prison early Friday morning in seven-seater vehicles with curtains drawn and went directly to their residences, according to local media reports. Li and Wong were released from Stanley Prison, Sham from Shek Pik Prison, and Tam from Pik Uk Prison, according to local media citing unnamed sources. The four were the second batch of 45 democrats released from jail after being sentenced to four years and three months behind bars. Sham, a prominent LGBTQ activist before he was jailed, arrived at his home in Jordan at 6.26am carrying two big bags. He wore a black T-shirt featuring cartoon characters holding a rainbow flag and the words 'The Grand Parade.' Plainclothes and uniformed police officers deployed around Sham's home prevented reporters from entering the building where he lives. When asked by reporters whether he was banned from making a statement to the press, Sham smiled and said in Cantonese: 'I want to reserve some time for my family. See you in the afternoon.' He entered the building without elaborating on whether he planned to make a public appearance later. Another released democrat, Li, arrived at his home in Kwun Tong shortly before 6.15am. He was carrying one bag and wearing a face mask. After getting out of the vehicle, he nodded at reporters at the scene and said, 'Thank you for the hard work.' He did not respond to questions from the reporters. Some reporters went to the housing unit stated as Li's home on court documents and knocked to ask if the former district councillor wanted to speak. There was no response and the door, which was not fully closed, was shut shortly afterwards. Around a dozen reporters waited at Muk Min Ha Tsuen, a village in Tsuen Wan on Friday morning, which is listed as Tam's address in court documents. At around 6.55am, a man who identified himself as the village chief of Muk Min Ha Tsuen told reporters at the scene that he had not seen Tam's wife for more than a year, and that they may have moved out. Local media outlet The Collective reported on Friday that a private vehicle carrying Wong arrived at the car park of his residence in Yuen Long at 6.34am. Some plainclothes police officers entered the building lobby before his arrival, while a few journalists waited at the scene, the report said. The Friday release arrangement was similar to that given to four former lawmakers released last month – Claudia Mo, Gary Fan, Jeremy Tam, and Kwok Ka-ki – the first group of 45 democrats discharged from prison. The former lawmakers were sentenced to four years and two months in jail after pleading guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit subversion. The 45 democrats were convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion over their roles in an unofficial primary election in July 2020 and sentenced in November last year. The unofficial primary election aimed to help the pro-democracy camp win a controlling majority in the legislature. Three judges ruled last year that the democrats had planned to use their constitutional powers to veto the government budget indiscriminately, ultimately forcing the resignation of the chief executive and a government shutdown. This, the judges ruled, would have resulted in a 'constitutional crisis.' With the four released on Friday, 37 democrats involved in the case are still serving prison time – including ex-law professor Benny Tai, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.
