Hong Kong top court overturns prison sentences for 'Umbrella' activists
- 6 years ago
Hong Kong's highest court freed three young pro-democracy activists on Tuesday, overturning their prison sentences for unlawful assembly.
Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow had been convicted for leading the so-called "Umbrella Movement" demonstrations in 2014, which were protesting against a more authoritarian China.
They were initially given handed community service terms, but the government in Hong Kong controversially appealed for harsher punishment, sparking outrage among rights groups.
Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal eventually sided with the three activists, but the court's chief justice warned of stricter penalties, including impartment, for future offenses relating to illegal protests.
Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow had been convicted for leading the so-called "Umbrella Movement" demonstrations in 2014, which were protesting against a more authoritarian China.
They were initially given handed community service terms, but the government in Hong Kong controversially appealed for harsher punishment, sparking outrage among rights groups.
Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal eventually sided with the three activists, but the court's chief justice warned of stricter penalties, including impartment, for future offenses relating to illegal protests.