The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China held a protest commemorating deceased Chinese human rights activist and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo on Wednesday.
The event marked the 49th day of Liu’s passing, which is the last day one can mourn the dead in accordance with Chinese tradition. “We can put down our sorrows, but we cannot stop our pursuit of justice,” the group said.
Among those in attendance were League of Social Democrat ex-lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, activist Avery Ng, Civic Party lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki, and the Democratic Party’s Albert Ho – who also chairs the Alliance.
The group marched from Western Police Station to the China Liaison Office, where they observed a moment of silence.
The group claimed that the Chinese authorities deliberately let Liu’s health deteriorate, and urged the Chinese government to show his family the relevant medical records. They urged Beijing to allow international human rights organisations to carry out an investigation.
It also demanded that the Chinese government put an end to the surveillance of Liu Xiaobo’s widow, the poet Liu Xia, as well as to ensure her freedom of movement and rights of communication are guaranteed.
Liu Xia has been held incommunicado by government authorities since the day of her husband’s funeral, according to her US-based lawyer, but recent videos have emerged of the widow appearing to ask the public to give her time to grieve.
“Liu Xiaobo has passed away, but he did not become the last political prisoner in China as he has wished. The trend of using harsh laws and punishments to deter those who take action in society has also spread to Hong Kong,” the Alliance said.
