Elderly busker, jailed after playing protest anthem ‘Glory to Hong Kong,’ faces fresh charges
Hong Kong Free Press
An elderly busker jailed last year for offences linked to playing protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong faces fresh charges over unlicensed public performances.
Li Jiexin, 70, who appeared before judge Li Chi-ho at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday, faces six counts of performing a musical instrument without a permit and six counts of raising funds without a permit, according to local media reports.
The 70-year-old was not required to enter a plea. His next court appearance has been scheduled for August 6.
Li was sentenced to 30 days in prison last October for unlicensed performance and fundraising after playing the protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong in public, with Magistrate Amy Chan saying that his offences amounted to “soft resistance”.
Unlicensed erhu performances
Between September 27 and October 4, Li allegedly played the erhu, a traditional Chinese two-stringed instrument, in public without lawful authority or excuse and without a permit issued by the Commissioner of Police.
On September 27, he played in pedestrian subways in Kwun Tong and Kwai Chung. On September 30, he played on a footbridge outside Fanling MTR station, a subway outside Tai Po Hui station, and outside Yuen Long station.
He played at the pedestrian subway in Kwun Tong again on October 4.
See also: How and why the government banned protest song ‘Glory to Hong Kong’
He also faces six charges, over those same occasions, for organising, participating in or providing equipment for fundraising activities without lawful authority or explanation and without a permit issued by the Director of Social Welfare, or the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs.
The charge sheet does not mention whether he played the protest song, the broadcast or performance of which has been restricted by Hong Kong’s courts.
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