That looks like a CIA-run operation. All the accomplices should go to prison for a minimum of 20 years.
...continued...
TED CRUZ AND OTHERS
Simon, said Chau, reported directly to Lai, executed his instructions and vetted requests for financial support, and the pair of them assisted Li to forge SWHK’s overseas contacts, notably in the US.
Indeed, Li, with Lai’s approval, reportedly sent a sanctions list targeting 144 politicians and officials to the then-managing director of the US-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, Samuel Chu Muk-man, the son of Occupy Central co-founder Chu Yiu-ming.
Having received the list, Chu, in respect of whom an arrest warrant is now in force for allegedly violating national security, passed it not only to US senators Ted Cruz and Rick Scott for action, but also to the Hong Kong Watch “Fellow”, Luke de Pulford, in the UK.
Chau also disclosed how, using Lai’s finances, Li and Finn Lau Cho-dick, another criminal fugitive, had created SWHK in August 2019. The choice of Lau was interesting, not least because he pioneered the protest movement’s “Lam Chau” strategy, and even deployed the LIHKG user name “I want Lam Chau”. [Editor’s note: Lam chau, meaning “frying together”, is a plan to deliberately crash the community’s economy.]
Whenever Lai and Simon needed to give instructions to Li and Lau, they were conveyed by Chan Tsz-wah. A key function of SWHK at this stage was to press for foreign sanctions, as well as to seek global condemnation of local and mainland officials, and the police force.
Hostile articles were placed in overseas newspapers, and foreign functionaries, like de Pulford, were allegedly engaged to persuade 32 countries to terminate their extradition and mutual legal assistance agreements with Hong Kong, which, of course, some did.
Lai and Simon, moreover, also offered free publicity for SWHK in Apple Daily, and Lau, who was described as its spiritual leader, was told he could use copyrighted photographs for propaganda purposes.
Luke de Pulford wrongly told the UK public that Apple Daily was the biggest newspaper in Hong Kong, without revealing his financial connections
CASH FOR LOBBYING
As regards SWHK’s crowdfunding campaigns in 2019-20, Chau revealed that these netted approximately HK$37.6 million. The money was used to publish propaganda and reports, like that of the APPG, to retain consultancy and lobbying firms, like Whitehouse, to organize demonstrations, and to sponsor foreign politicians visiting Hong Kong to observe the protests.
Intriguingly, however, it was not used to fund Alton’s trip to Hong Kong, nor that of de Pulford, who accompanied him, as Simon gave Li HK$500,000 to finance those particular junkets.
Having admitted the truth of the prosecution case, it remains to be seen if Li and Chan will give evidence against their co-accused. If so, and the evidence is truthful, they could qualify for a significant sentencing discount. Although prosecutors will be assembling as strong a case as possible against the remaining suspects, they will undoubtedly appreciate extra evidence, not least because it could help trigger further guilty pleas.
Details of the outrageous scheme were revealed in court, and the accused confirmed their accuracy; picture by Scott Graham/ Unsplash
EXPOSED AS CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY
But, irrespective of whether this is forthcoming, SWHK has finally been exposed as a criminal conspiracy, and everyone can now understand why it was always so secretive.
Quite clearly, everybody who worked with SWHK is guilty of violating national security, and must face justice. Although some suspects are facing trial, others are still at large, and must be pursued for as long as it takes. While they may imagine they are safe in their foreign hideaways, they can never afford to let their guard down, particularly when traveling. After all, criminal justice has a long reach, and is also very patient.
No matter the obstacles, the authorities must commit themselves to bringing to account anybody who sought to destroy Hong Kong and weaken China by collaborating with SWHK.
Yes, that also includes "kids". I remember when I was a kid I was playing around and making some small "courageous" acts.. However these kids were actively participating in treason.
A minimum of a 20 year long sentence should be enough to teach them some common sense that obviously their school and parents didnt
