TOP HK ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO 10 MORE MONTHS IN JAIL OVER UNLAWFUL VIGIL
HONG KONG: Prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to more jail time on Thursday for participating in an unauthorised vigil to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, as Hong Kong authorities exert more control over dissent in the city.
For years, Hong Kong was the only place in China where people were allowed to mark the anniversary of Beijing’s crushing of the democracy movement.
Despite the commemoration being banned for the first time last year due to Covid-19 safety measures, thousands of protesters defied authorities and proceeded to Victoria Park to light candles and sing songs. Police who were present at the vigil warned the protesters they may be breaking the law but made no arrests on the day itself.
Wong and three district councillors had pleaded guilty to knowingly taking part in an unauthorised assembly, and could have faced a maximum of five years in prison. Twenty other people face charges over the Tiananmen vigil but have not entered pleas.
Wong, who rose to prominence as a student activist and was the face of the 2014 pro-democracy protests, is in jail after being convicted of illegal assembly in other protests and was sentenced to an additional 10 months. Councillors Lester Shum, Jannelle Leung and Tiffany Yuen received sentences that range from four to six months for last year’s vigil.
Wong was among 47 activists charged under the city’s national security law for taking part in unofficial primary elections held last year by the pro-democracy camp.