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Occupy Central
Hong KongPolitics

With more than 100 Hong Kong activists facing prosecution, can the pro-democracy bloc unite?

Wave of support has raised some HK$2.5 million for those jailed and their family members, sparking hope that movement will be revitalised

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Lester Shum is hoping that recent uproar over the jailing of activists will give new life to the pro-democracy movement. Photo: Felix Wong
Jeffie Lam

With their three young leaders behind bars, key members of the 2014 Occupy protests are coming together to mobilise support, organise help for the families of those jailed and launching a fresh call for Hongkongers to rejoin the fight for democracy.

They have already been galvanised by an outpouring of support at Sunday’s march to condemn the jail sentences, with more than HK$2.5 million raised from donations by well-wishers. The money will be used to support the activists’ appeals and their family members in need.
The sum was more than the HK$2.04 million the July 1 march – the city’s biggest annual pro-democracy event – raised this year.

Support and tears for activist trio jailed over government HQ rally

“Hongkongers should stop saying they are useless ... The power they have – no matter how little it is – is definitely bigger than that of those behind bars,” former student leader Lester Shum said.

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In an interview with the Post, Shum, who called himself an “undeserving survivor” of the movement, called on Hongkongers to shake off the feeling of helplessness and resignation that had set in after Occupy failed to force the government to back down on electoral reforms.

He urged people to take action by joining any group within the pro-democracy camp which shared their beliefs or had set up street booths for a cause they cared about. These could range from protesting against the jailing of the activists or opposing the government’s bid to unseat popularly returned lawmakers, Shum said.
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Crowds took to the streets in Wan Chai to protest against recent court rulings on activists. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Crowds took to the streets in Wan Chai to protest against recent court rulings on activists. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

He also said he hoped Sunday’s march – which organisers claimed was the biggest since Occupy – would be a good start for the bloc to rebuild unity.

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