The leader of "Hong Kong independence" was released from prison after completing his sentence and closed social media accounts, and public opinion was concerned about whether he truly repented

Source: Global Times

Leung Tin-chi, a former spokesman for Hong Kong's "Local Democracy Front" who was sentenced to 6 years in prison for rioting, was released from prison on the 19th after deducting his holiday. As a representative opposition leader in Hong Kong, his release from prison has aroused some concern, and public opinion hopes that he will truly repent

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According to the Hong Kong Oriental Daily Network reported on the 19th, The 30-year-old Liang Tianqi left Shibi Prison at about 3 a.m. on the same day. Due to his special background, the Police and correctional services department (CSD) expected supporters and journalists to wait in prison, causing confusion and safety, so they arranged for Leung Tin-chi to be released before 3 a.m. under the coordination of the two sides.

At about 5 a.m., Liang Tianqi left a message on Facebook: "I have been released this morning and returned safely to my family. As required by law, I am required to comply with the Regulatory Order upon my release. He then shut down his Facebook page. Previously, on the 18th, Liang Tianqi's Facebook sent a message from his family saying that "the matter of receiving out of prison has become a recent controversy", calling for "no need to make a special long journey to Shibi" and "please let Tianqi return home and reunite as soon as possible".

According to the Security Bureau, released prisoners under supervision are required to comply with all the conditions set out in the supervision order, including maintaining good conduct, residing in a place where the supervisory officer has been approved, being able to perform only approved work, and meeting with the supervisor at least once a month.

Put forward the iconic slogan of "Hong Kong independence"

Born in June 1991 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, Liang Tianqi's father was a Hong Kong native, he moved to Hong Kong with his mother when he was 1 year old, studied philosophy at the University of Hong Kong as an adult, joined the "local democracy front" in 2015, and became the leader of the "local faction" with Huang Taiyang, who was also suspected of participating in the Mong Kok riots and absconding to Germany. In February 2016, he participated in the by-election of the New Territories East Seat in the Legislative Council, with the so-called "Restoring Hong Kong, Revolution of the Times" as the campaign slogan, and finally won, and in the same year, he signed up for the Legislative Council election, and was disqualified. During the Spring Festival in 2016, fierce clashes broke out between the "Local Democracy Front" and the police, and In June 2018, Leung was convicted of one count of rioting, plus the assault on the police that he had earlier confessed, and was sentenced to six years in prison. Last year, he was placed in prison at the highest fortification level, Cat. A is held in solitary confinement, and most of the prisoners are repeat offenders.

In fact, the serious negative impact of Leung Tin-chi on Hong Kong society has not been eliminated to this day. First, the slogan he put forward that year has become the iconic slogan of "Hong Kong independence", which was suspected of violating the law after the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong on June 30, 2019, and the court then ruled on Tang Yingjie's case in July last year. The judge said that the slogan "Restore Hong Kong, Revolution of the Times" has the meaning of splitting the country and can incite others to split the country. Second, documentaries and other propaganda works advocating Leung's fallacy of "Hong Kong independence" are still poisoning the next generation; third, most of the more than 4,000 young people arrested for participating in the "black riot" are still in prison or in the interrogation stage.

"It's not a written off when you serve a sentence"

In view of the way out after the arrested students are imprisoned, Liang Zhenying, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, issued an article on the 17th saying that the society "helps one to help" the tortured students, which he fully agrees with, but the premise is that these people regret and change after accepting "punishment" and "teaching" and are willing to be reborn. What he disagreed with was that some people thought that after serving their sentences, they had "paid the price", that the debts had been repaid, that others were exempt from questioning, and that everything was written off, "As far as this kind of person is concerned, in fact, 'punishment' and 'teaching' have no effect." Liang Zhenying also said on the 18th that not all prisoners will repent, "Tai Yaoting did not retract the 'theory of illegal justice', Joshua Wong and Liang Tianqi did not retract their claims", there is no reason for the school to accept these students, there is no reason for social acceptance, the key is whether this person really repents. "What we're seeing is juvenile defendants showing remorse to the court before sentencing after conviction. We rarely see these people repenting before they are convicted, and even less do we see them openly repenting to society about the damage they have done to society." He finally stressed that these young people should know that after they are released from prison, they still face a mechanism of reward and punishment, "if they really repent, there is a reward; if they do not repent or falsely repent, they must continue to accept the punishment of society." If you don't believe it, go to England to break the law and go to jail to try it."

Legislator Leung Mei-fen said that everyone is equal before the law, and if you break the law, you will definitely be punished by the law, and no matter what radical tactics are unacceptable. Previously, at the end of last year, some legislators asked secretary for security, Tang Bingqiang, "If there are prisoners who oppose China and chaos in Hong Kong after they have completed their sentences and then make trouble," Tang Bingqiang responded that anyone who breaks the law, whether they are released from prison or any person in Hong Kong, especially those who violate the national security law, incite others, and split the country, will be dealt with severely.

Some Hong Kong media commented on the 19th that from the family's hope that Liang Tianqi will live a low-key life after his release from prison, to the law enforcement departments making full plans for his release from prison, it is all explained that "although Liang Tianqi has paid the price for his behavior and received the punishment he deserves, it is still a question whether he can truly return to 'normal'." As a former representative figure of extreme "local" forces, Leung Tianqi still has a certain degree of influence, is still the leader in the hearts of a group of die-hard elements, and fears that the external forces that are not chaotic in Hong Kong also want to continue to use their surplus value. The article said that there have always been people who advocate tolerating these tortured people and "helping them." In fact, even if you go out of prison, there is still a reward and punishment mechanism in society, "if you can sincerely repent, completely cut off from the past, build Hong Kong instead of destroying Hong Kong from now on, I believe that Hong Kong society has enough tolerance; but if you still do not repent, and want to repeat the scene of the Mong Kok riots in the past, you will inevitably face more serious punishment."