Toronto and UK Concern Groups Rally for Release of All 47 Pro-Democracy Political Prisoners in Hong Kong

Hong Kong 47 Political Concern Group held a rally at Mel Lastman Square in Toronto on Mar 17, 2023. About 100 people gathered in cold weather to support political prisoners in Hong Kong. Courtesy of Hong Kong Watch

Political Prisoner Concern Groups launched rallies in Toronto and London on March 17,  to urge the Hong Kong government to release all political prisoners unconditionally.

Protesters who joined the rally in Toronto urged the Hong Kong government to release all political prisoners and encouraged the international community to keep observing the ongoing political trials in Hong Kong.

The group stated since the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong in 2020, the Hong Kong government has arrested and charged more than 240 people for violating the National Security Law.

Nearly 100 people join a rally in London to speak up for Hong Kong political prisoners. Courtesy of Hong Kong Watch

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) published two Hong Kong human rights reports dated July 12, 2022, and Feb. 28, 2023. The commission named 15 officials involved in political prosecutions, including Commissioners of Hong Kong’s Criminal Prosecution.

CECC pointed out that the 15 government officials had violated human rights and suggested the U.S. government sanction those officials. In the report in February, it specifically named 6 of the prosecutors for severely violating human rights in the case of 47 people and asked the U.S. government to urgently sanction those named.

The London Rally

Sam Goodman, Director of Policy and Advocacy of the Hong Kong 47 Political Concern Group, attended the London rally. Goodman noticed how the National Security Law had been used as a terrorizing tool to create social division and suppress dissidents.

He believed that people should always unite together and remember there was hope.

Other speakers in London included Simon Cheng, Founder of Hongkongers in Britain, Isaac Cheng, former Vice-Chairperson of now-defunct Demosistō, and Vincent Lam, former Legislative Assistant to Claudia Mo and Andrew Chiu.

Mo and Chiu were among the 47 democrats remanded while awaiting their trials.

A UK concern group spokesperson said, “We are united and demand the unconditional release of all Hong Kong political prisoners. Even though we have left Hong Kong, we will never forget our fellow friends and comrades who remain in Hong Kong and jail.”

In Toronto

The Canadian group also urged the Canadian government to stand with Hong Kong and its political prisoners to defend their rights.

The group spokesperson also thanked Canada for allowing Hongkongers to seek freedom and a new home in its country.

Aileen Calverley, co-founder and trustee of Canada and Hong Kong Watch, encouraged overseas Hongkongers to resist the Hong Kong regime in any way possible, regardless of whether it is a rally, a protest, or a joint signature signing campaign—anything to help the international community to persist its solidarity with Hong Kong political prisoners.

“Because officials in democratic countries listen to the people’s voices,” said Calverley.

In the joint signature statement, Hong Kong 47 Political Concern Group called on the Canadian government to demand the Hong Kong government withdraw all accusations and unconditionally release all 47 democratic political prisoners.

The group also condemned the Hong Kong officials and related departments involved in the political suppression of the arrested 47 pro-democracy figures.

The mentioned departments included the Office for Safeguarding National Security, the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of Hong Kong, the National Security Department, The National Security Prosecutions Division of the Department of Justice, and all designated judges responsible for national security law cases exclusively.