The China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group, along with pro-democracy groups and Hong Kong lawmakers, marched to the China Liaison Office on Thursday to demand that Beijing release political prisoners.
In attendance were League of Social Democrats activists Avery Ng, Leung Kwok-hung, and Jaco Chow, Demosisto members Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, as well as lawmakers Kwok Ka-ki and Au Nok-hin, amongst others.
The groups noted that Wang Quanzhang, who was arrested in China’s 709 crackdown on human rights lawyers in 2015, has been missing for 1,000 days.
Wang was charged with “subversion of state power” and has been denied access to a lawyer. Wang’s wife, Li Wenzu, is embarking on a 100-kilometre march from Beijing to Tianjin to highlight his plight.
While I’m on leave, I don’t forget about my friend and human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang. His wife Li Wenzu and her friends have been so brave in doing everything they can to demand information about Wang’s whereabouts. Wang has been missing for over 1000 days…. https://t.co/NgiRBMgNQ3
— Patrick Poon 潘嘉偉😷🦚 (@patrickpoon) April 6, 2018
The protesters also said that human rights activist Yu Wensheng – who supported the Umbrella Movement in 2014 and was openly critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping – has been under residential surveillance since January. Authorities have prevented lawyers from meeting him.
“We therefore urge the Chinese government to release lawyer Wang Quanzhang unconditionally; we protest the long-term surveillance of his wife Li Wenzu. We demand that Yu Wensheng be allowed to meet with lawyers to ensure his right to legal representation,” the China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group said.
