Three opposition members and activists have been sentenced to prison in Hong Kong. The twenties were on trial for being involved in protests a year and a half ago against the Chinese government’s interference in the city-state.
The most famous activist, Joshua Wong (24), was sentenced to 13.5 months in prison. Agnes Chow (23) was sentenced to ten months and Ivan Lam (26) to seven months. “It is a firm verdict,” says correspondent Sjoerd den Daas in it NOS Radio 1 News.
Both Wong, Chow and Lam pleaded guilty for their involvement in the organization of an unauthorized protest in June 2019. The judge therefore imposed lower sentences. In addition to organizing the protest, the penalties are also for participating in it and for inciting others to do the same.
Growing influence in China
At the age of 17, Wong was already one of the prominent figures of the so-called umbrella protest in 2014. In 2017 and 2018 he was awarded imprisonment imposed for his role in the demonstrations. “It is the fourth time that he ends up behind bars,” says Den Daas. “There are six charges against him in total.”
Watch the conversation that correspondent Sjoerd den Daas had with Joshua Wong last summer below:
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