US Hongkongers club（美國香港人會館)

文:關永傑

編輯:鐘然 責任編輯:胡麗莉 校对：程筱筱 翻译：戈冰

March 3, 2026 加州灣區

2026年2月9日，在一個被外界廣泛質疑為受政治操控的司法環境下，香港法庭以《國安法》框架下的「煽動顛覆國家政權」與「勾結外國勢力」罪名，重判黎智英二十年，蘋果日報多名高層被判 七至十年，案件過程取消陪審團、以密室審訊方式進行，種種安排，顯示香港法治已被摧毀。

判決消息傳出後，為了表達對黎智英先生的聲援，也為了表達對新聞自由與法治原則的堅持，流亡海外的香港人及一眾一直關注並支持香港抗爭者的群體隨即在2月14日多地聯動發起聲援黎智英、抗議港共惡法的活動。

此事件亦引起國際社會關注，美國政界多名議員公開譴責判決結果，美國政府更邀請黎智英先生的女兒黎采（Claire Lai）出席總統在國會山莊發表國情咨文的現場。她在場邊接受傳媒訪問時，轉述她父親說過的一句話：“若所有人都離開，誰來見證香港的沈淪？”她呼籲國際社會不要將香港遺忘，強調這不只是黎智英一人的案件，而是關乎新聞自由與法治原則的存亡。

為保持議題熱度，讓更多美國民眾瞭解香港現況，US Hongkongers club (美國香港人會館) 於3月1日再次發起行動，持續聲援黎智英先生，抗議中共扼殺言論自由。是日下午2:30，會館館長Bruce與我們相約到達Interstate 80 Berkeley 路段的行人天橋，同行的還有灣區的活躍民主人士陳森鋒。

我們在天橋的鐵網上掛起四幅標語：“Free Hong Kong”、“Free Jimmy Lai”、“END CCP”、“光復香港”。標語甫一掛上，過往車輛的喇叭聲就此起彼伏，更有乘客向我們揮手示意，表達對我們的支持。而行經天橋的一些民眾也與我們擊掌或握手，並高喊“Free Hong Kong”，場面令人感動。其後，其他參與者陸續抵達。Bruce對人員進行分組，一部分人留在天橋舉牌或揮舞旗幟，另一組則駕車在公路上拍攝天橋的畫面，務求將現場影像完整記錄，並迅速發佈至X (Twitter)、Facebook、YouTube及Instagram，擴大傳播規模。

我們深愛那個曾經文明、自由、法治的香港，如今已被中共完全控制，隨著港區《國安法》的實施，香港更是迅速地淪為警察城市。國安惡法就像是一根套在自由香港人脖子上的繩索，而這根繩索現在正越收越緊。2026年2月中旬，港府向立法會申請 40.6 億港元的撥款，用於擴展名為「智眼」（SmartView）的監控程式。計劃在未來數年內為全港 6 萬多組監控攝像頭進行技術升級，包括引入更強大的 AI 人臉識別與大數據分析功能 ，此系統建成之日，港人將進入道路以目時代。

黎智英先生年逾古稀，曾坐擁億萬家財，本可遠走他方，安享餘生。然而他選擇了留下，選擇以一份報紙對抗強權。今日他身陷囹圄，並非他真的犯有重罪，而只是因為他堅持媒體應監督權力、社會應容許異見。

黎智英先生所堅持的，不過是正常的文明與法治的社會應有的底線，正因如此，我們更不能習慣這種選擇性的無視。香港只有七百萬人口，流亡海外者更是散落世界各地。有人說，海外港人的聲音太微弱；也有人問，在今日的國際局勢下，你真的還相信公義會降臨嗎？或許世界會因為新的危機而轉移目光，但2019年逾百萬港人走上街頭的畫面，我們不會忘記。那不是一場短暫的情緒宣洩，而是一代港人——亦是一群相信普世價值的世界公民對自由作出的鄭重承諾。若身處自由之地的我們也逐漸沈默，那麼至少，我們對不起自己的記憶。

「我雖勢弱言輕，決不虛作無聲。」這是對黎智英先生的回應，也是對我們自己的提醒。

Free Jimmy Lai—Continuing to Speak Out for Freedom

US Hongkongers Club

By: Kwan Wing Kit

Editor: Chung Yan Managing Editor: Hu Lili

Proofreader: Cheng Xiaoxiao Translator: Ge Bing

Summary: Overseas Hong Kongers and supporters held a solidarity action in the San Francisco Bay Area, protesting the harsh sentencing of Jimmy Lai under the National Security Law and urging the international community to address the deteriorating state of press freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

March 3, 2026 California Bay Area

On February 9, 2026, within a judicial environment widely questioned by the international community for political manipulation, a Hong Kong court sentenced Jimmy Lai to 20 years under the National Security Law framework on charges of “inciting subversion of state power” and “colluding with foreign forces.” Several senior executives of Apple Daily received sentences ranging from seven to ten years. The trial proceeded without a jury and was conducted behind closed doors. These arrangements demonstrate that the rule of law in Hong Kong has been destroyed.

Following the verdict, to express solidarity with Mr. Jimmy Lai and uphold principles of press freedom and the rule of law, Hong Kongers in exile and groups supporting Hong Kong’s resistance movement launched coordinated actions on February 14 across multiple locations. These demonstrations voiced support for Lai and protested Hong Kong’s draconian laws.

This incident has also drawn international attention. Multiple U.S. lawmakers publicly condemned the verdict, and the U.S. government invited Mr. Lai’s daughter, Claire Lai, to attend the President’s State of the Union address at the Capitol. During a sideline interview with media, she relayed a statement from her father: “If everyone leaves, who will bear witness to Hong Kong’s downfall?” She urged the international community not to forget Hong Kong, stressing that this was not merely Jimmy Lai’s case, but one concerning the survival of press freedom and the rule of law.

To maintain momentum and raise awareness among American citizens about Hong Kong’s current situation, the US Hongkongers Club organized another action on March 1st, continuing to support Jimmy Lai and protest the Chinese Communist Party’s suppression of free speech. At 2:30 PM that afternoon, Club Director Bruce met us at the pedestrian overpass on Interstate 80 in Berkeley, accompanied by Bay Area democracy activist Chan Sum Fung.

We hung four banners on the overpass’s metal railing: “Free Hong Kong,” “Free Jimmy Lai,” “END CCP,” and “Liberate Hong Kong.” As soon as the banners were hung, honking horns from passing vehicles erupted in waves. Passengers waved to us in support. Pedestrians crossing the overpass high-fived or shook hands with us, chanting “Free Hong Kong”—a deeply moving scene. Additional participants gradually arrived. Bruce divided the group into teams: some remained on the bridge holding signs or waving flags, while others drove along the highway filming the bridge to capture comprehensive footage. This allowed us to swiftly post the footage to X (Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, maximizing its reach.

We deeply cherish the Hong Kong that once embodied civilization, freedom, and the rule of law. Now, it has fallen entirely under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. With the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the city has rapidly transformed into a police state. This draconian security law is like a noose tightening around the necks of Hong Kong’s free citizens, and that noose is now being pulled ever tighter. In mid-February 2026, the Hong Kong government applied to the Legislative Council for HK$4.06 billion in funding to expand the surveillance program known as “SmartView.” The plan involves upgrading over 60,000 surveillance cameras across Hong Kong in the coming years, incorporating more powerful AI facial recognition and big data analytics capabilities. Once this system is fully operational, Hong Kongers will enter an era where they dare not speak their minds.

Mr. Jimmy Lai, now in his seventies, once possessed a fortune worth billions. He could have departed for distant shores to enjoy his twilight years. Yet he chose to remain, choosing to confront power with a newspaper. Today, he languishes behind bars not because he truly committed grave crimes, but simply because he insisted that media should oversee power and society should tolerate dissent.

What Mr. Jimmy Lai stands for is nothing more than the fundamental baseline of a civilized, rule-of-law society. Precisely because of this, we must not grow accustomed to such selective disregard. Hong Kong has a population of only seven million, and those in exile are scattered across the globe. Some say the voices of Hong Kongers abroad are too faint; others ask, in today’s international climate, do you truly believe justice will prevail? The world may shift its gaze amid new crises, but we will never forget the images of over a million Hong Kongers taking to the streets in 2019. That was not a fleeting emotional outburst, but a solemn pledge to freedom made by a generation of Hong Kongers—and by a community of global citizens who believe in universal values. If we, who live in free lands, gradually fall silent, then at the very least, we betray our own memories.

“Though my voice is weak and my words carry little weight, I shall never remain silent.” This is our response to Mr. Jimmy Lai, and a reminder to ourselves.