Former HKFS Secretariat final appeal accepted!

BREAKING NEWS: The former HKFS Secretariat Christopher Fung and Chris Lo were given permission by the three- member appeal committee of the Court of Final Appeal on Thursday to launch their final bid in the highest court to overturn convictions for illegal public assembly.

Two of them together with the Hong Kong Legislator, "Long Hair" were convicted under the Public Order Ordinance at the magistracy in November 2002 for organizing and holding an unauthorized public assembly in Central in February in the same year.

It was the first time individuals were prosecuted under the ordinance, which states prior notice must be given to police before a public demonstration.

The ordinance, which came into effect on July 1, 1997, has been condemned by human rights activists. Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) is the student organization that champion this issue and campaign.

Justice Frank Stock, the dissenting judge, said that the scope of discretion given to the Police Commissioner to object to public assemblies was too broad and that the grounds the commissioner was required to give were too vague. Even so, the same appellate court gave the trio the green light to take their case to the highest court in two weeks.

The ASA secretariat members, Madhav and Khai Loon were there to give solidarity support to the HKFS. We will keep update about this case to you and provide you an exclusive update.