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By Michael Mo
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to 13 and a half months in jail on Wednesday on charges related to an unauthorized anti-government protest last year at the city’s police headquarters.
Fellow activist Agnes Chow, who pleaded guilty to participating in the protest and inciting others to participate, received 10 months, while activist Ivan Lam received 7 months after pleading guilty to incitement.
The trio, who were members of the now-defunct political group Demosisto, were detained last Monday and have been in solitary confinement ever since, according to Wong’s posts on social media.
The judgment of the Hong Kong trial court reveals the future of Hong Kong activists and people who dare to continue their fight for freedom. Hong Kong’s future looks bleak.
‘Illegal meeting’
The protest took place on June 21 last year and drew thousands to the police headquarters, near the government headquarters.
Hong Kongers demonstrated against the excessive use of police force against protesters, as well as an extradition bill that would have allowed the extradition of citizens to mainland China, which has not been completely withdrawn from the legislature.
Wong, who at the time had just been released from jail four days after serving his sentence in contempt of court for the 2014 pro-democracy protest case, called on Hong Kong residents to protest in front of the headquarters. of the police and demand a peaceful dialogue then the Chief Commissioner, Stephen Lo.
Photo Credit: Reuters / TPG Images
The authorities arrested Wong for organizing an “illegal gathering”. The public order law of public order has been repeatedly criticized by the United Nations and activists. According to the law, groups of more than three people are prohibited from walking in the same direction. The law, previously relaxed under British administration, was reversed after 1997.
Wong, 24, and Lam, 26, had previously been jailed on charges related to their activism. Wong has already been in prison three times. He was sentenced to six months for his participation in the 2014 pro-democracy protest led by Professor Benny Tai. It is the first time Chow, 23, has received a jail sentence.
The world can hope that Wong’s latest sentence will trigger another round of resistance in the streets of Hong Kong. Wong appealed to Hong Kong residents to maintain their fighting spirit before he was brought to court last week.
What does the sentence mean?
The administration could technically go after all Hong Kong residents who were arrested in the pro-democracy protests. Hong Kong CEO Carrie Lam did not rule out such possibilities.
More than 500 pro-democracy protesters involved in the protests against the anti-extradition bill were sentenced and some of them are now serving their six-year prison terms.
There are still more than 2,000 Hong Kongers facing legal charges related to the protests and around 10,000 Hong Kongers, including myself, who were arrested and later released on bail.
Photo Credit: Reuters / TPG Images
As activists watch Hong Kong’s prosecution trend for prosecution, the pressure they face is indescribable.
Along with the enactment of the National Security Act in July, a tool that allows authorities to arrest, detain and jail dissidents, many activists feel that Hong Kong no longer exists. The freedom and civil liberties that were once guaranteed to Hong Kongers no longer exist.
Preparing for the ‘mass exodus’
Leaked documents from UK authorities suggest that the UK government should prepare for a “mass exodus” of Hong Kongers from the territory to British soil.
There were approximately 169,000 active British (overseas) national passport holders (BNOs) among Hong Kong residents prior to the city’s protests. By the end of this year, the UK government estimates that the figure could rise to 733,000.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would implement the BNO visa, a path that allows Hong Kong residents who were born before the territory was handed over to be resettled in the UK, shortly after the Hong Kong National Security Act was enacted. Kong. Beijing sees the move as a provocation.
While daily life in Hong Kong seems to continue as usual, there are already signs that the city is undergoing a change.
Overseas property advertisements fill the streets of Hong Kong. Even prestigious high schools reported a record dropout rate in recent years, as more parents are sending their children abroad to enjoy a censorship-free education.
Many Hong Kongers are at a crossroads. The sentencing of Wong and other pro-democracy activists could lead them to make a decision about whether to stay or leave a city they once called home.
This article originally appeared on Deutsche Welle. Read the original article here.
READ NEXT: Three prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activists in custody
TNL Editor: Bryan Chou (@thenewslensintl)
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