Cantopop star Hins Cheung has said he will serve as a mentor in a Security Bureau program aimed at rehabilitating former 2019 protesters.
The state-backed Chinese newspaper Wen Wei Po published one interview with Cheung on Saturday, in which the singer said he used to be “ignorant” and “rushed.”
He also apologized for being “involved in the social atmosphere” when he supported the pro-democracy movement.
“Regarding some of my past remarks, which were inappropriate and made people question how I view my feelings and attitude towards the country and Hong Kong, which I care deeply about, I sincerely apologize,” the 45-year-old was quoted as saying.
Born in Guangzhou, Cheung previously made comments in support of social movements in Hong Kong, including the national education protests in 2012 and the Umbrella Movement in 2014.
Cheung now volunteers as a mentor for a rehabilitation program run by the Security Bureau aimed at helping young people, he told the newspaper.
The singer said that in the coming month, he would be a guest speaker for the program and also planned to lead the youth on trips to mainland China during the first half of the year.
“I hope that by participating in the Security Bureau’s program, the suspicions about me in society can be dispelled,” he said.
After the publication of Wen Wei Po’s interview, the local media reported that Cheung removed more than 1,000 Instagram accounts, including those of Cantopop singers Keung To and Joey Yung, as well as his fan club.
‘repentance’
For the past year or two, the bureau has been running a rehabilitation program targeting about 7,000 people who were arrested during the 2019 protests and riots but have not been charged, Security Secretary Chris Tang told media on Sunday.
It involves taking participants on trips within the territory of China. In exchange for joining the program, authorities will drop the charges against them, Tang said.
The government said in 2022, a total of 10,279 protesters were arrested, of which 1,754 were under the age of 18. Of the 2,893 prosecuted, 517 were minors.
Tang said that in addition to Cheung, other mentors from various sectors of society have also volunteered for the program.
He said the program was not intended to make participants admit wrongdoing.
See also: Hong Kong government expands rehabilitation program for freed protesters on tour in China
“We hope they can deepen their understanding of (China) and we can also help them in their careers,” Tang said TVB in Cantonese.
“We’re not setting any hard targets, such as (requiring them to go to mainland China) three or four times, or that they have to say certain things,” he said.
“(When) we think they have shown remorse, we will give them a chance,” he added. “The most important thing is their attitude.”
