AROUND THE WORLD / CZECHOSLOVAKIA
International Viewpoint #75 • December 11, 1989
AROUND
THE
WORLD
HONG KONG Colonial authorities attack pro-democracy activists ON September 29, 1989, supporters of the Chinese democracy movement rallied outside the venue of the National Day reception of the New China News Agency in Hong Kong. During the demonstration, police blocked the demonstrators several times from advancing. Four students displaying pictures of the June 4 massacre were arrested. The police also confronted another group of demonstrators and arrested three of them, beating them openly, even after they were handcuffed.
The police later went with warrants to 2 TV stations to take away related video tapes. Subsequently, up to seven people were arrested and charged under the Public Order Ordinance for "illegal assembly" along with other charges. The hearing starts on December 4. If convicted they are liable for heavy jail sentences.
The basic right of every Hong Kong citizen to rally and demonstrate is under threat. Furthermore, the police used open violence to suppress a demonstration and caused permanent injury to the left eye of one of the arrested. The colonial regime has also attacked freedom of the press and effectively threatened citizens participating in future demonstrations. It is also clear that political considerations have interfered with "judicial impartiality", with the democratic rights of Hong Kong citizens and the solidarity movement in support of the Chinese democracy movement, sacrificed for the political interests of both the Hong Kong colonial regime and the Chinese regime.
An urgent appeal has been launched internationally to rally support for human rights in Hong Kong and for the solidarity movement in support of the Chinese democracy movement. The following appeal letter can be sent to the Hong Kong governor, with a copy to October Review, GPO Box 10144, Hong Kong:
To: David Wilson
Hong Kong Governor
Governor's House
Hong Kong
Honorable Sir David Wilson, 24 of Hong Kong cizens Were tearely beat- We are concerned to learn that a number en up, arrested and charged by the Hong Kong police while taking part in a demonstration outside the venue of the National day reception of the New China News Agency on September 29, 1989.