HK student charged over anti-Beijing protest
HONG KONG: A student protester pleaded not guilty yesterday to multiple criminal charges over a demonstration against a pro-Beijing figure, a day after the conviction of an “Umbrella Revolution” leader was blasted by rights activists.
Billy Fung, former president of Hong Kong University’s (HKU) student union, faces a raft of charges over a protest at the university in January where students stormed a council meeting.
Supporters gathered outside the court to support Fung yesterday, a day after teenage protest leader Joshua Wong and two other prominent student activists were convicted for a protest that sparked major pro-democracy rallies here, known as the “Umbrella Revolution”.
to charges over a protest in January.
That prosecution was slammed by rights group Amnesty International, which said the “vague charges” against Wong, Alex Chow and Nathan Law “smacked of political payback”.
Fung said he was worried other students could be targeted, after pleading not guilty to four charges — criminal intimidation, disorderly conduct in a public place, criminal damage and attempted forcible entry. The charges all relate to the student siege of the meeting in January in protest at the appointment of proBeijing Arthur Li to a senior administrative role.
Around 200 students surrounded a HKU building and refused to let both Li, who is council chairman, and the vice-chancellor of the university leave the meeting. They said Li “forced” their hand due to his unwillingness to speak with them.
He was released on a cash bail of HK$10,000 (RM4,800) and will appear in court again in September for a pre-trial review. AFP