A fund to assist four lawmakers facing a legal challenge brought by the government has raised at least HK$1.83 million after a protest march on Sunday. It is expected to exceed HK$2 million when further donations from the march’s organiser are added.
The Justice Defence Fund was set up in late December to help cover costs related to judicial reviews the government has lodged against lawmakers Nathan Law Kwun-chung, Edward Yiu Chung-yim, Lau Siu-lai and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung. The government hopes to disqualify them as lawmakers on the basis of their protests during their oath of office.
The Fund announced on Sunday night that it had raised HK$1.42 million during the march. Along with HK$410,000 it has raised as of December 30, and a donation that the march’s organiser the Civil Human Rights Front will give, the fund says it is expected to have more than HK$2 million.
“It is all because of Hong Kong people’s sense of justice and the continuous fight against the powerful regime that we are able to obtain such a huge amount two weeks since we started,” read a social media post.
The Fund urged the public to carry on donating so it can reach its HK$5 million goal.
The four’s case is postponed till February.
Meanwhile, a donation campaign launched by ousted Youngspiration lawmaker duo Yau Wai-ching and Baggio Leung Chung-hang has received HK$513,966, as of December 29, according to its website.
Their goal is also HK$5 million.
According to the duo, a large proportion of the current sum would be used to pay legal fees.
They will have to pay a deposit of HK$1.6 million as they have filed an appeal at the highest court of Hong Kong.
