HONG KONG ACTOR AND PROTESTERS JAILED FOR STORMING LEGISLATURE
In a dramatic turn of events, Hong Kong actor Gregory Wong and 11 others have been sentenced to jail for their involvement in the storming of the city’s legislature during the 2019 protests.
Wong received a harsh sentence of just over six years, marking one of the longest jail terms handed down by the district court on Saturday. Activists Ventus Lau and Owen Chow were also among those facing prison time for their roles in the pro-democracy protest.
Furthermore, two journalists were fined for unlawfully entering the Legislative Council chamber during the chaotic events.
Most of the defendants were convicted of rioting, stemming from the incident that occurred in July 2019. The storming of the legislature was a pivotal moment in the pro-democracy demonstrations triggered by a contentious extradition law to mainland China.
During the protest, hundreds of demonstrators breached the building, defacing walls with graffiti and bringing supplies for those occupying the premises. The vandalism caused extensive damage, including torn portraits of political leaders and smashed furniture.
Addressing the court, Judge Li Chi-ho emphasized the lasting social impact of the breach, stating that it not only caused physical harm but also symbolically challenged the Hong Kong government’s authority, weakening its governance.
The widespread protests ultimately led to the enactment of a stringent security law, facilitating the prosecution of demonstrators and diminishing the city’s autonomy. Over 100 individuals have been arrested under the Beijing-imposed legislation in 2020.
Hong Kong, a former British colony, was returned to China in 1997 under the “one country, two systems” principle. Critics argue that the Chinese Communist Party has violated the agreement by infringing on the city’s autonomy and undermining its economic and social structures. — BBC
