BY DOUG LORIMER

HONG KONG — Seventy pro-democracy protesters staged a rally outside in the Chater Garden Square next to the local Legislative Council building on November 17, defying a police warning that the gathering was illegal under Hong Kong's public order ordinance.

The rally was organised to protest the charging on November 15 of two pro-democracy activists, Andrew To and Lao San-chang, for allegedly organising an illegal gathering on May 11 in support of three fellow pro-democracy activists — Leung Kwok-hung, a member of April 5 Action Group, and Fung Ka-keung and Lo Wai-ming, both members of the Hong Kong Federation of Students — who were charged on May 9 with having committed the same offense.

Under Hong Kong's public order ordinance, organisers of a public gathering of more than 50 people (or a street procession of more than 30 people) must provide at least seven days' notice to the police or risk prosecution and jail terms of up to five years.

The protesters further defied the ordinance by marching to the Hong Kong offices of the Chinese central government, located in the grounds of the former British governor-general's residence. Police, who almost outnumbered the protesters, blocked the protesters from entering the grounds.

Protesters dispersed after occupying the street outside for nearly two hours. They chanted pro-democracy slogans and listened to speeches from Leung Kwok-hung and Lao San-chang. Legislative Council members Andrew To and Emily Lau also spoke. Police made no arrests.

Lao spent 10 years in a mainland Chinese prison from 1981 to 1991. He told Green Left Weekly that he believed Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hua's administration had charged him and Andrew To to demonstrate to Beijing that the local authorities were willing to suppress dissenters.

Lao said it was no coincidence that the prosecution had been initiated four days before Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji was due to visit Hong Kong.

On November 18, To and Lao appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their case was adjourned until December 10.

From Green Left Weekly, November 27, 2002.
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