Yeung Sum ends 14-month prison ordeal with rallying cry for freedom

Former Democratic Party chairman Yeung Sum was welcomed by party members as he walked out of Stanley Prison yesterday after serving a 14-month sentence for organizing and participating in four illegal assemblies.

Yeung, 74, was among a dozen pan-democracy heavyweights convicted last year for their roles in several illegal assemblies throughout 2019 and 2020.

Upon leaving the prison at around 10am, Yeung was greeted by several party members including chairman Lo Kin-hei as well as former lawmakers Emily Lau Wai-hing, Helena Wong Pik-wan and Cheung Man-kwong.

With a notebook in hand, Yeung proceeded to give a short speech.

"Hong Kong has become an authoritarian society whose government values stability, obedience, subservience and strength - a government that focuses on results," Yeung said. "But under such a government, Hongkongers have been denied their freedoms. Our civil liberties, academic freedoms and press freedoms have all been suppressed."

Yeung further described the city's governance as "unilateral," saying the government silences dissenting voices in its relentless pursuit of economic development and social stability.

"The voices of those who once actively served their communities have been silenced," he said. "Is this what Hongkongers want?"

Yeung urged Hongkongers to tell the truth, saying: "We must continue to believe in democracy, freedom and the rule of law. We must do our part, speak truth to power and forge a pluralistic society We must insist on our right to universal suffrage and a democratic system granted by the Basic Law." He called on Hongkongers to continue upholding their beliefs through peace, rationality and nonviolent means.

"We should work together for one country, two systems, a high degree of autonomy and a vision of democracy."

Yeung was first elected to the Legislative Council in 1991. He later became a founding member of the Democratic Party and served as its chairman.

He was sentenced to 14 months in prison for organizing or participating in three marches in 2019 - on August 31, October 1 and October 20 - and was later convicted of participating in a rally on June 4, 2020. Though Yeung pleaded guilty, he maintained he had done nothing wrong. He told the court that everybody should be entitled to basic rights like freedom of assembly.