Thousands protest in Hong Kong over jailing of pro-democracy activists
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Hong Kong to protest the imprisonment of three pro-democracy activists, a decision which the opponents of the pro-China government say is political and influenced by Beijing’s lack of tolerance for dissent.
In a mass march to Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal on Sunday, protesters carried placards and banners denouncing the jailing of Joshua Wong, 20, Nathan Law, 24 and Alex Chow, 27. The trio received jail sentences of six to eight months for unlawful assembly on Thursday.
“It's not a crime to fight against totalitarianism,” read a banner held by protesters while they chanted, “Release all political prisoners. Civil disobedience. We have no fear. We have no regrets.”
Organizers said the number of protesters was the highest recorded in Hong Kong since huge pro-democracy protests in 2014, which attracted hundreds of thousands at their peak and paralyzed parts of the financial hub for 79 days. The organizers said the rally on Sunday showed that people had become united again in their call on China to respect Hong Kong’s judicial independence.
“Since the Umbrella movement, the radical and milder forces walked their own path,” said Ray Wong, a 24-year-old leader of a local pro-independence group, referring to the protests three years ago where most of the people carried umbrellas for defense against tear gas. "We're now standing together. It is a good start,” said Wong.
During the march on Sunday, protesters chanted slogans against Hong Kong’s Justice Secretary Rimsky Yuen, calling him a China protégé who continues to defy calls for a milder approach in dealing with dissent.
Under a deal between Britain and China in 1997, Hong Kong was reunited with China, but it was decided that the territory should continue to enjoy its freedoms, including a separate legal system. China says that those privileges have been protected but insists it could not tolerate movements that seek full independence from the mainland.
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