Lee Cheuk-yan tells court that calling for an end to one-party rule is not a call to overthrow the ruling party
The activist and former trade unionist spoke at his subversion trial regarding his role in the Hong Kong Alliance, which organised vigils in memory of the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre. He faces up to 10 years in prison. In his defence, he quoted Mao Zedong and former Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang opposing one-party rule.
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – Calling for an end to one-party rule in China's political, social, and economic life is not the same as – and does not imply – a call for a popular uprising to overthrow the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), Lee Cheuk-yan said yesterday at his trial.
The activist, trade unionist, and former Member of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo) has been in prison for five years. He is currently on trial along with lawyer Chow Hang-tung, and former LegCo Member Albert Ho, the Hong Kong Free Press reported.
The trial, which started recently after several postponements, sees the pro-democracy leader answerable for his role in the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which held annual vigils in Victoria Park from 1989 to 2019 in memory of the victims of the Tiananmen Square student massacre in Beijing.
The activists, along with the Alliance itself, are on trial on charges of inciting subversion under China’s infamous national security law, an offence that is punishable with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Lee and Chow pleaded not guilty, while Ho pleaded guilty.
Lee took the stand yesterday to make several statements; in particular, he said that he simply hoped that China’s leadership would no longer retain the one-party form of government.
The Alliance's key slogan, calling for an end to one-party rule in China, is the focus of the charge, which prosecutors claim violates the country's constitution and represents incitement to commit subversion.
Appearing before the three-judge panel at the West Kowloon Court, Lee explained that the movement advocated for the end of one-party rule, since this is contrary to democracy.
The former lawmaker also argued that fundamental civil rights, including freedom of speech, assembly, and the press, must be guaranteed for civil society to organise and thrive. Only then would society be able to consider democratisation.
“Once you have a civil society, be it the intellectuals, the students, workers, women, businesspeople, or farmers, they will be able to discuss what political system works best for China. There must be a foundation for discussion before they can enter the political system,” he explained.
Judge Alex Lee then asked the activist if he meant that the CPC should not be in power. The defendant replied that he opposed "one-party rule,” not the CPC leadership.
Lee then added that he believed the CPC could lead the nation if the people deem it appropriate, expressing their choice within the framework of a democratic process. He added that the Alliance's call for an end to "one-party rule" did not imply an intention to overthrow the party.
“There is absolutely no such meaning," Lee said, explaining that the Alliance never formulated plans to remove the party from power and that the group's name indicated support for democratisation and rights in mainland China.
Lee finally stated that the Alliance has always used nonviolent means of protest and that all organised vigils were approved by the police except in 2020, when the vigil was banned due to social distancing regulations for COVID-19.
Police never told the Alliance that its requests had violated the national security law when authorities banned the vigil again in 2021, Lee added.
He concluded by reading some writings by Chinese communist leaders, including CPC founder Mao Zedong and former Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang.
He claimed that even Mao was against one-party rule, while Zhao supported broader participation and involvement by pro-democracy advocates, even with the CPC still in power.
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