A silent protest will be held this Saturday (April 15) at the Cascade Steps in central Bristol. The action by the Bristol Hongkongers is in support of the 'Hong Kong 47' who face an ongoing trial. The Bristol group has joined forces with Hongkonger organisations across the UK and internationally for the protest.
The protest is against the arrest and trial of 47 Hong Kong prominent pro-democracy figures who were arrested and charged under Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) with “conspiracy to commit subversion”. They are accused of holding unofficial pre-election primaries to pick opposition candidates for the 2020 Legislative Council election.
Bristol Hongkongers said in a statement: “In February the trial of the Hong Kong 47 began and is expected to last 90 sitting days...The trial is proceeding with three hand-picked judges by the government without a jury and they could face life in prison.”
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According to Reuters, thirteen of the 47 arrested were granted bail in 2021, while the other 34 - including 10 who pleaded not guilty - have been in pre-trial custody. Bristol Hongkongers said some defendants have "spent two years in detention".
The organisation criticised the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and accused it of “breaching the Sino-British Joint Declaration”. It added that some of the 47 previously held British citizenship and have family who are UK citizens, while “as many as 45 have British National Overseas status”. It urged the British government to impose sanctions, as well as monitor the trial closely.
Silent protests will be held by Hongkonger organisations in various cities in the US, Canada, Taiwan and Australia during April, as well as in nine cities in the UK. These are Bristol, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Reading, Sheffield, Sutton, Edinburgh and Leeds.
The silent protest in Bristol will take place on Saturday from 2pm-3pm at the Cascade Steps.
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