An elderly Hong Kong pro-democracy activist has been charged with breaching country park regulations after displaying a pair of Chinese-language banners on Lion Rock last October.

Chan Ki-kau
Chan Ki-kau atop Lion Rock with a couplet that can be translated as “fierce-browed, I coolly defy a thousand pointing fingers. Head bowed like a willing ox, I serve the children.”

Chan Ki-kau, 76, appeared at Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday for the first time since his arrest and bail four months ago. Police detained him after noticing reports online about signs appearing on the iconic peak, which is 495 metres high.

He stood accused of violating the Country Parks and Special Areas Regulations. The regulations state that visitors cannot display signs, notices, posters, banners or advertisements in places under the regulations unless they have permission. Offenders face a fine of up to HK$2,000 and three years’ imprisonment.

The activist was granted bail and will return to court again on April 26, The Witness reported.

Last September, a picture on Chan’s Facebook page showed him on Lion Rock holding two scrolls with a Chinese couplet penned by writer Lu Xun, according to local media outlets. The couplet can be translated as “Fierce-browed, I coolly defy a thousand pointing fingers. Head bowed like a willing ox, I serve the children.”

Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts
Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts. File photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.

Nicknamed “Grandpa Chan,” the activist is a member of Protect Our Kids, a pro-democracy group founded during the protests and unrest of 2019. The protest movement was sparked by a controversial amendment to the city’s extradition bill that would have allowed the transfer of fugitives to mainland China to stand trial.

Chan was known for his presence on the front line of demonstrations, urging calm as protesters faced off against police officers. He also took part in a hunger strike during the early days of the movement.

Last January, Chan was ordered to pay around HK$510,000 to the Department of Justice after his application to launch a legal bid against the police over their display of identification during the 2019 protests was dismissed by a court.

Chan’s challenge alleged that it was unlawful for police in the Special Tactical Contingent unit, known as “raptors,” to be allowed not to display individual identification numbers.

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Hillary Leung is a journalist at Hong Kong Free Press, where she reports on local politics and social issues, and assists with editing. Since joining in late 2021, she has covered the Covid-19 pandemic, political court cases including the 47 democrats national security trial, and challenges faced by minority communities.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Hillary completed her undergraduate degree in journalism and sociology at the University of Hong Kong. She worked at TIME Magazine in 2019, where she wrote about Asia and overnight US news before turning her focus to the protests that began that summer. At Coconuts Hong Kong, she covered general news and wrote features, including about a Black Lives Matter march that drew controversy amid the local pro-democracy movement and two sisters who were born to a domestic worker and lived undocumented for 30 years in Hong Kong.