Unfree Speech by Wong Joshua

Author:Wong, Joshua [Wong, Joshua]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2020-02-17T16:00:00+00:00

This Time Last Year I Was Counting Votes at LegCo

一年前還在立法會點票站

Day 19 – Monday, 4 September 2017

Today’s mail delivery broke another personal record, not by the number of letters but by its sheer weight. From my lawyer I received a 291-page printout of my entire Facebook page and Demosistō’s group page since my sentencing two weeks ago.

I never thought I would enjoy this ‘hardcopy Facebook’ – almost a contradiction in terms – but I do. It makes me feel connected with the outside world again. I’ve thought about requesting regular Facebook printouts but decided against it. For one thing, the task is time-consuming (Demosistians are already time-poor and short of hands) and for another, printing reams and reams of Facebook posts would kill far too many trees. I’ll just have to wait for the occasional surprise, like today’s.

Every letter coming in and going out of prison will be opened and reviewed by the guards, on the grounds that Correctional Services need to check for hidden objects. They also screen for unauthorised messages, like plans to subvert the authorities or conspiracy among inmates.

Unless, that is, the letter is to or from a person who holds a public office, such as a legislator. If this is the case, the envelope will remain unopened and unread by anyone other than the addressee. Delivery is also expedited so it takes two days instead of a full week to get to the hands of the recipient. The sender doesn’t even need to put a postage stamp on the envelope.

This creates a bit of a loophole and one that I’m happy to exploit. It saves me stamp money and gives me peace of mind when discussing sensitive matters. The guards grumble each time I request a so-called ‘sealed delivery’. Whether they like it or not, I’m determined to send one at least twice a week.

All sealed deliveries go through the Reception Office. To avoid inmates smuggling drugs or other illegal substances we’re required to take a urine test after each sealed delivery pick-up or drop-off. The Reception Office is a glorified locker room where simple paperwork is processed and prison officers sit around and gossip. While waiting in the office to take a drug test one time, my eyes were drawn to the calendar pinned on the wall. Exactly a year ago, on 4 September 2016, Nathan made history by becoming the youngest elected lawmaker in Asia, having won 50,818 votes in the Hong Kong Island constituency. All of us were in the ballot room at the LegCo Building cheering and crying tears of joy, a throng of local and foreign reporters waiting impatiently outside. None of us would have guessed that months after the historic win, Nathan would lose his seat and both of us would be behind bars.

I wonder if Nathan, too, has noticed the anniversary, and I wonder what’s going through his mind tonight.

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