Hong Kong ex-lawmaker fined for breaking aviation law outside Legislative Council with ‘release political prisoners’ balloon
- Tsang Kin-shing, 65, admits flying a balloon exceeding two metres long in controlled airspace, an offence under 1995 aviation order
- Opposition activist released near city’s legislature a balloon tied to a banner calling for authorities to ‘release political prisoners’
A former Hong Kong lawmaker has been fined HK$2,500 (US$322) for violating aviation law by flying in controlled airspace a balloon tied to a banner calling for the release of “political prisoners”.
Tsang Kin-shing, 65, appeared at Eastern Court on Tuesday alongside jailed trade unionist Lee Cheuk-yan, 64, in relation to the stunt outside the Legislative Council on January 1.
Opposition activist Tsang, also an ex-district councillor, called the prosecution a political decision and part of the government’s ongoing crackdown on dissent.
He pleaded guilty to flying a balloon exceeding two metres long in controlled airspace, an offence under the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995.
Lee, an ex-lawmaker who is currently serving a 20-month jail sentence over his roles in three unauthorised assemblies in 2019, denied the aviation charge and another count of obstructing a public officer. He will return to the same court in September.
Tsang and Lee were accused of breaking the law during a small gathering on Legislative Council Road organised by the Civil Human Rights Front on January 1. Members of that gathering had been driven through the streets atop a white van with a second banner saying “free all political prisoners”.