JOSHUA WONG: STATEMENT ABOUT COURT CASE
1. It would not be surprising if I'm sent to immediate detention today. It is the least ridiculous outcome among others that happened recently in Hong Kong. In the past 3 weeks, a total of 23 activists, journalists and councillors came under arrest. Everyday we have activists standing in trials, protestors sent to jail.
2. My case is relatively a mild one, when the movement was still in the early stage. I pleaded guilty to offences including organizing an unauthorized assembly, to which the maximium penalty is 5 years.
3. Under the continuing onslaughts against the city’s dissents, generations of youths go from protests to prisons. To safeguard liberty for the place that we are born, all of them have made silent but regretless sacrifice. Some of them were tortured, forced into exile, or even took their own lives after chanting protest slogans. That is the reason why, ever since my first release from the prison, I have vowed to draw more public attention to prison justice, in particular those on political prisoners.
4. Perhaps the authorities wish me to stay in prison one term after another. But I am persuaded that, neither prison bars, nor election ban, nor any other arbitrary powers would stop us from activism. What we are doing now is to explain the value of freedom to the world, through our compassion to whom we love, so much that we are willing to sacrifice the freedom of our own.
5. I'm prepared for the thin chance of walking free. This case would draw the world's attention to the arbitrary power of the criminal justice system whose impartiality is crippled by Beijing's undue influence and systemic violence in greater detail.
6. Whatever happens today, I thank my family and colleagues for their unwavering support. For the safety and health of the twelve activists held in China, they are in my daily prayers. I'd also pray for Agnes and Ivan for peace and wisdom. May God bless Hong Kong. Thank you.
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