Pro-democracy activist Jimmy Sham has said he will have to navigate Hong Kong’s red lines, following his release from jail after serving more than four years over the city’s largest national security case.
Speaking to reporters outside his Jordan home just before 9.30am, Sham said that he had no plans to leave Hong Kong.
“At this point in time, I don’t have plans to leave Hong Kong. At the end of the day, people who are very important to me who are still in Hong Kong,” the 37-year-old said in Cantonese.
He also said he would not comment on his experience in prison, “because there are still many people in there.” Talking about it would not do them any good, he said.
See also: Another 4 Hong Kong democrats freed after being jailed over unofficial primary election
Sham was among three other ex-district councillors who were released from prison early Friday morning, after completing their jail terms over the city’s largest national security case. The four of them were sentenced to four years and three months in jail.
They were among a total of 45 pro-democracy activists who were convicted and sentenced over conspiring to commit subversion linked to an unofficial primary election.
Sham, along with Kinda Li, Roy Tam, and Henry Wong, was transported in seven-seater vehicles to their residences.
Sham served time in Shek Pik Prison. Li and Wong were released from Stanley Prison, and Tam from Pik Uk Prison, according to local media citing unnamed sources.
The four were the second batch of democrats convicted to be released from jail. Last month, former lawmakers Claudia Mo, Gary Fan, Jeremy Tam and Kwok Ka-ki returned home after completing their sentences.
Sham said: “To be honest, I don’t know what there is to say, because it’s been four years [in jail], and I think I’ve been disconnected from society. I’m really not in a position to comment on what’s going on.”
‘Some things can’t be said’
Asked about his plans following his release, Sham said: “It’s just my first day out, so as for what I can do in the future, where the red lines are drawn, I think I’ll have to figure things out first.”
That also applied to whether he would decide to engage in LGBTQ advocacy, he told reporters.
Sham, who is openly gay, brought forth a landmark LGBTQ rights case that resulted in the top court’s 2023 ruling that the Hong Kong government was obliged to provide an alternative legal framework recognising same-sex relationships.
“I also miss Lek Yuen. It was always a responsibility that I never fulfilled,” he said, referring to the constituency in Sha Tin he once served as a district councillor, representing the pro-democracy party League of Social Democrats.
In response to whether the national security police had told him not to contact certain people or to be wary of them, he also said he had “self-censored” in regards to “sensitive questions.” He also said: “Of course, there are concerns that some things can’t be said.”
Asked whether he felt he was “free” after being released from prison, he said: “I’m freer than I was yesterday. This is a change that I’m happy with… But there are still many people suffering, which makes me feel like I can’t be too happy, so there are concerns. As for whether I’m free, that’s something I’d like to know as well.”
He added, “My expectation for myself is to remember those who are still suffering.”
Sham said emotions were “complex,” adding in English: “I don’t dare to let myself [be] too happy… I do not know what can I say, what can I do.”
“I don’t know. Maybe tomorrow you can still see me, I’m free. Maybe tomorrow I’ll go back to jail,” he said.
“But over the past four years, I really felt the warmth from outside the walls,” Sham said, recalling how his family would visit him in prison even when the No. 8 typhoon signal was hoisted.
“I experienced a lot of unhappiness and helplessness, but [I] slowly recovered… Either way, we need to live, so let’s live on,” he added.
Separately, Wong posted a photo of himself on Facebook at 10.42am – his first social media update since February 28, 2021, the day the 47 democrats went into detention.
In the photo, Wong, who is smiling and wearing a white sleeveless shirt, appears leaner than his last public appearance. There was no caption accompanying the picture.
