Koo Sze-yiu, a veteran activist and member of the League of Social Democrats, was arrested in December 2023 on charges of attempted sedition following his plans to protest Hong Kong’s electoral processes.
The arrest marked the latest in a series of legal confrontations for Koo, who has been convicted more than 13 times and imprisoned on 10 separate occasions throughout his career. His activism dates back to the 1960s, during which he developed a political trajectory that opposed both the British colonial administration and the Chinese Communist Party.
Koo became a visible presence in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movements, often appearing at mass demonstrations, including the annual July 1 marches commemorating the 1997 transfer of sovereignty from Britain to China. He frequently utilized a coffin as a symbolic prop during these protests to highlight government abuses and commemorate the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Legal Pressure and the National Security Law
The environment for dissent in Hong Kong shifted significantly in 2020 with the implementation of the National Security Law. The legislation allows for life imprisonment for certain offenses, leading to a sharp decline in public demonstrations and the exile of numerous political figures. Despite these risks, Koo continued his public activities, including protests against the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
During his final court appearances, Koo represented himself, asserting that human rights transcend political power and that the people stand above the state. He described his repeated imprisonments as a source of wisdom and a necessary part of his life’s work.
Health and Political Conviction
In 2020, Koo was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Following the diagnosis, he stated that he would have no regrets as long as he spent his remaining life fighting and facing imprisonment, even if he did not live to see the establishment of democracy in China.
Koo’s visual signature remained the slogans painted on the coffins he carried during marches. One such slogan read: “The people’s heroes, they shall remain forever immortal.”
The December 2023 charges of attempted sedition remain part of the ongoing legal proceedings against the activist.
