National Security Police Investigate June 4 Alliance

For 30 years the alliance organized the annual June 4 vigil

 

The crackdown on civil society groups continues now with the national security police investigating the group that for three decades -- up until two years ago -- organized the annual Tiananmen candlelight vigil in Victoria Park, for allegedly colluding with foreign forces.

Letters were sent to 12 members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, requesting information related to the group's ties with foreign groups and the deadline is in two weeks' time.

Chow says allegations are "ridiculous"

This is the first time the national security police is exercising its power to deal with foreign powers and their agents, with the alliance being targeted as an agent.

"The information [sought] includes the member list, the group's financial reports and activities information," a senior police source said.

"We are investigating the relationship between the group and these foreign organizations," continued the source. "We are also looking into whether the group is the Hong Kong agent of overseas organizations and if it received any financial support or donations from those organizations."

Chow Hang-tung, vice-chairwoman of the alliance, confirmed all seven members of its standing committee had received the letters and are seeking legal advice over whether to handover the requested documents.

"But the allegation that the alliance is a foreign agent is ridiculous," Chow said, who is also a lawyer.

Lee (far left) and Ho (centre) are currently in jail

The national security police is looking for details and financial dealings of the alliance with the New School for Democracy, Asia Democracy Network, China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group, and other organizations funded by the US-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

The police is also asking the alliance about its dealings with Mark Simon, the right-hand man of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying.

Among those who received the letters include alliance chairman Lee Cheuk-yan, and former Democratic Party leader Albert Ho Chun-yan. Both are in jail for their roles in the unauthorized protests in 2019.

Just last month, the alliance reduced its standing committee membership to seven from 14, and dismissed all staff members, citing a rapid deterioration of freedom in the city's political landscape.

Police looking for link with Mark Simon

Even though the group has planned to disband, it is in a difficult position: Failure to comply to the national security police's request constitutes an offence punishable by a fine of up to HK$100,000 (US$12,840) and six months' imprisonment.

It is also an offence to provide information that is "false, incorrect or incomplete", and that carries a fine of HK$100,000 and a jail term of up to two years.