Chu Yiu-ming
Reverend Chu Yiu-ming (Chinese: 朱耀明, born 10 January 1944 in Hong Kong) is the minister of Chai Wan Baptist Church in Hong Kong.[1] He is one of the founders of the Occupy Central Campaign for universal suffrage in the 2017 Hong Kong Chief Executive Election.[2]
Biography
Operation Yellowbird
After 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, Chu Yiu-ming led a mission dubbed Operation Yellowbird to secretly move persecuted dissidents from mainland China to places overseas via Hong Kong.[3]
Occupy Central
Chu Yiu-ming and 8 other activists were convicted on 9 April 2019 for events towards the Occupy Central and Umbrella Movement protests in 2014. Chu was given a suspended sentence while his other two allies Benny Tai and Chan Kin-man were immediately put in jail for 16 months.[4]
“We strive for democracy, because democracy strives for freedom, equality, and universal love. Political freedom is more than loyalty to the state. It professes human dignity. Every single person living in a community possesses unique potentials and powers, capable of making a contribution to society. Human right is a God-given gift, never to be arbitrarily taken away by any political regime,” he said during the sentencing hearing.[1]
References
- "In Full: 'I have no regrets, we do not give up' – Reverend Chu's Umbrella Movement speech ahead of sentencing". Hong Kong Free Press. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- Cheung, Tony (30 April 2013). "Occupy Central seeking support from women, workers after criticism". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- Lam, Jeffie (17 September 2017). "Occupy co-founder Reverend Chu Yiu-ming anxious but adamant ahead of trial and potential jail term". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- "Chu Yiu-ming overcome by jail terms for campaigners". The Standard. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.