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The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Hong Kong 47: Jimmy Sham, three other opposition figures released from prison
Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, one of 47 Hong Kong opposition figures charged in the city's largest national security case so far, has been released from prison after serving his sentence for conspiracy to commit subversion. Sham and three others – Kinda Li Ka-tat, Roy Tam Hoi-pong and Henry Wong Pak-yu – were released early on Friday, a police source confirmed. They were the second batch of defendants in the high-profile case to complete their sentences. Sham, 38, a former convenor of the now-defunct Civil Human Rights Front, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison in November 2024, with the time he spent in pre-trial detention also taken into account. He was seen leaving Shek Pik Prison on Lantau Island under heavy police escort and also near his home in Jordan, where he reportedly arrived at around 6.30am. Speaking to local media, Sham said he hoped to remember those who were 'still suffering', and that he would need time to figure out what the 'new normal' was after four years away from society. 'I'm not sure if I am really a free man,' he said. 'My emotions are complicated ... of course, there is some happiness here [about my release], but there are still many who are suffering, and I feel like I can't be too joyful.' He added that over the past four years many things had changed 'outside' that he had not been aware of. 'I don't know how to plan ahead because, to me, it feels like today is my first day of understanding the world again,' Sham said. 'So, as for what I can do or should do in the future, or where the red line is, I feel like I need to explore and figure it out all over again.' He said he had no plans to leave Hong Kong for the time being and that he was looking forward to spending time with his family again after four years of being apart. Li, Tam and Wong, who are all former district councillors, were also released around the same time – Li and Wong from Stanley Prison and Tam from the Pik Uk Correctional Institution. Their release followed that of four former Legislative Council members – Fan Kwok-wai, Claudia Mo Man-ching, Kwok Ka-ki and Jeremy Tam Man-ho – who were freed in late April, the first defendants to complete their sentences in the case. Sham served as convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front for a year in 2015 and again from 2018 to late 2020, a period during which the organisation spearheaded many large-scale anti-government protests, including during the 2019 social unrest. He also served as the external vice-chairman of the League of Social Democrats and was a district councillor for the Sha Tin Lek Yuen constituency before resigning in 2020. The 'Hong Kong 47' case is the biggest prosecution yet under the national security law that was imposed on the city by Beijing in June 2020 to quell the months-long anti-government movement. Forty-five of the 47 opposition figures were earlier convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion for their roles in an unauthorised 'primary' election held four years ago that was deemed to be part of a plot to overthrow the government. Additional reporting by Connor Mycroft - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Hong Kong frees four more pro-democracy activists jailed in national security trial
Four more of the '47 democrats' jailed in the Hong Kong national security trial were released on Friday, ending over four years of incarceration. The second group of pro-democracy activists to be released in a month, they were convicted of hatching a conspiracy to commit subversion by organising an unofficial primary election in July 2020. They were sentenced last November. Jimmy Sham and fellow former district councillors Kinda Li, Roy Tam and Henry Wong left prison in the early hours of Friday in a seven-seater vehicle with curtains drawn. They went straight to their residences, Hong Kong Free Press reported. Mr Sham led one of Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy groups, the Civil Human Rights Front, which was disbanded in 2021. The group had helped organise big marches during the pro-democracy protests of 2019 which grew violent at times and had a major impact on business and tourism. "Let me spend some time with my family," he said after reaching home in Kowloon. "I don't know how to plan ahead because, to me, it feels like today is my first day of understanding the world again. So, as for what I can do or should do in the future or where is the red line, I feel like I need to explore and figure it out all over again.' The pro-democracy activists were found guilty of organising an unofficial "primary election" in 2020 to pick candidates for a legislative election that was later postponed. The prosecutors said the activists were plotting to paralyse the government by engaging in potentially disruptive acts once elected. Their trial under the national security law was denounced as 'politically motivated' by the US and its allies who demanded their release. Beijing and Hong Kong rejected the allegations saying everyone was equal under the law and these activists had received a fair trial. In late April, Hong Kong had released former lawmakers Claudia Mo, Kwok Ka-Ki, Jeremy Tam, and Gary Fan from prison. China has cracked down heavily on opposition groups in Hong Kong since the 2019 protests and also targeted the liberal civil society and media outlets under sweeping and contentious national security laws imposed in 2020. Of the '47 democrats' arrested in the wake of the 2019 protests, 45 were convicted following a marathon trial and given sentences as long as 10 years. Two were acquitted.
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Freed HK Democracy Activist Says Needs To Figure Out 'Red Lines'
A leading face of Hong Kong's quashed democracy movement told reporters he would have to figure out "where the red lines are" following his release from prison on Friday, after more than four years behind bars. Jimmy Sham was one of 45 opposition figures jailed for subversion after holding an informal election primary in 2020, in what was the city's largest national security case. The 37-year-old was one of four people released on Friday after serving their sentences -- the second batch from the 45 to be freed in recent months. "It's the first day, so I'm still trying to figure out what I can and should do in the future, and where the red lines are," Sham told local media reporters. Civil and political rights in the city have been curtailed since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, after enormous and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests the year before. Sham was the convenor of the now-defunct Civil Human Rights Front, one of the marches' largest organising groups. A well-known LGBTQ activist, Sham wore a locally designed T-shirt featuring a parade of cartoon creatures waving a rainbow flag as he was released. While he was in jail, judges ruled on a case he had brought asking the city's top court to strike down Hong Kong's same-sex marriage ban. "(The case) was a blessing to me. I was in a mild depression... It made me feel as if something could change, and it made me feel empowered," he said Friday. Judges rejected same-sex marriage but ordered the government to set up an "alternative legal framework" to protect same-sex couples' rights. "It's a shame that the case was lost, but having a framework that can be established (in the future) has been a big change," Sham said. But after four years and three months in jail, he said he had a lot to catch up on and learn from others. "I think I am out of touch with society," he said, adding he wanted to spend time with his family before anything else. He walked free along with three former district councillors, Roy Tam, Henry Wong, and Kinda Li. Their release follows that of ex-legislators Claudia Mo, Jeremy Tam, Kwok Ka-ki and Gary Fan, also part of the 45, in late April. Sham said he had "mixed feelings" about his freedom. "I've experienced a lot of unhappiness and powerlessness, so I hope we can all pull ourselves together, and try to get on with our lives anyway," he said. "I won't leave Hong Kong at this moment, as many who are meaningful to me are still staying here," he added.
France 24
2 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Freed HK democracy activist says needs to figure out 'red lines'
Jimmy Sham was one of 45 opposition figures jailed for subversion after holding an informal election primary in 2020, in what was the city's largest national security case. The 37-year-old was one of four people released on Friday after serving their sentences -- the second batch from the 45 to be freed in recent months. "It's the first day, so I'm still trying to figure out what I can and should do in the future, and where the red lines are," Sham told local media reporters. Civil and political rights in the city have been curtailed since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, after enormous and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests the year before. Sham was the convenor of the now-defunct Civil Human Rights Front, one of the marches' largest organising groups. 'Out of touch' A well-known LGBTQ activist, Sham wore a locally designed T-shirt featuring a parade of cartoon creatures waving a rainbow flag as he was released. While he was in jail, judges ruled on a case he had brought asking the city's top court to strike down Hong Kong's same-sex marriage ban. "(The case) was a blessing to me. I was in a mild depression... It made me feel as if something could change, and it made me feel empowered," he said Friday. Judges rejected same-sex marriage but ordered the government to set up an "alternative legal framework" to protect same-sex couples' rights. "It's a shame that the case was lost, but having a framework that can be established (in the future) has been a big change," Sham said. But after four years and three months in jail, he said he had a lot to catch up on and learn from others. "I think I am out of touch with society," he said, adding he wanted to spend time with his family before anything else. He walked free along with three former district councillors, Roy Tam, Henry Wong, and Kinda Li. Their release follows that of ex-legislators Claudia Mo, Jeremy Tam, Kwok Ka-ki and Gary Fan, also part of the 45, in late April. Sham said he had "mixed feelings" about his freedom. "I've experienced a lot of unhappiness and powerlessness, so I hope we can all pull ourselves together, and try to get on with our lives anyway," he said.
CNA
2 days ago
- General
- CNA
Second group of Hong Kong democrats freed after 4 years in jail
HONG KONG: Four people jailed in the landmark Hong Kong national security trial of "47 democrats" accused of conspiracy to commit subversion were freed on Friday (May 30) after more than four years behind bars, the second group to be released in a month. Among those freed was long-time political and LGBTQ activist Jimmy Sham, who also led one of Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy groups, the Civil Human Rights Front, which disbanded in 2021. "Let me spend some time with my family," Sham said after arriving at his home in the Kowloon district of Jordan. "I don't know how to plan ahead because, to me, it feels like today is my first day of understanding the world again. So, as for what I can do or should do in the future, or where is the red line, I feel like I need to explore and figure it out all over again." CHRF was one of the largest pro-democracy groups in the former British colony and helped to organise million-strong marches during pro-democracy protests in 2019 that turned violent at times and had a major impact on business and tourism. The others who were released were Kinda Li, Roy Tam and Henry Wong. At the end of April, former pro-democracy lawmakers Claudia Mo, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam and Gary Fan were released from three separate prisons across Hong Kong around dawn. Since the 2019 protests, which disrupted Hong Kong for most of that year, China has cracked down on the democratic opposition as well as liberal civil society and media outlets under sweeping national security laws that were imposed in 2020. The 47 pro-democracy campaigners were arrested and charged in early 2021 with conspiracy to commit subversion under a Beijing-imposed national law which carries sentences of up to life in prison. Forty-five of the defendants were convicted following a marathon trial, and given sentences of as long as 10 years. Only two were acquitted. The democrats were found guilty of organising an unofficial "primary election" in 2020 to select their candidates for a legislative election that was later postponed. Prosecutors accused the activists of plotting to paralyse the government by engaging in potentially disruptive acts had they been elected. Some Western governments, including the US, called the trial politically motivated and had demanded that the democrats be freed.
