Hundreds mourn Hong Kong champion of prisoners’ rights Shiu Ka-chun

A social employee and college lecturer, Shiu rose to prominence throughout Hong Kong’s 2014 Umbrella Motion — a civil disobedience marketing campaign to push for real elections — and was later jailed for it.

In the course of the 163 days he spent behind bars, Shiu clashed with guards over prisoners’ welfare and he championed the trigger after his launch.

Wall-fare, a assist group began by Shiu, was credited with serving to households navigate the maze of jail paperwork — a necessity that turned extra pressing as 1000’s have been imprisoned over Hong Kong’s 2019 protests.

A younger lady surnamed Wong stated she began taking note of prisoners’ rights after becoming a member of Shiu’s pen pal programme that related her to folks behind bars.

“He was the rationale I turned serious about prisoners’ rights … he made me need to do extra, though I won’t be capable of change a lot,” Wong advised AFP.

Shiu needed to make jail life extra bearable and organized to mail books to prisoners, stated a novelist surnamed Chiang who collaborated with the activist.

“He devoted himself due to his Christian religion and his dedication to society. That is very admirable,” she stated.

Wall-fare shut down in 2021 after Hong Kong’s safety chief accused it of endangering nationwide safety.

Activist Dickson Chau from the League of Social Democrats hailed Shiu as a “pioneer” throughout the legislature who tried to vary the system.

Shiu was a prolific author and his books — together with keepsakes from his lawmaker and lecturer days — have been displayed at Saturday’s memorial.

Veterans from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp, together with Cardinal Joseph Zen and barrister Margaret Ng, have been amongst those that paid tribute.

In his remaining months, Shiu wrote about his battle with most cancers and stated he was “shedding pounds, not religion”.

“Pleasure and struggling are two extremes and each are essential to life.”