Student leaders are meeting to discuss plans to fight against repression of freedom of speech and assembly in Hong Kong following the arrests of two student activists last week.
But they also admit the arrests could deter students from getting involved in future actions.
Chinese University of Hong Kong student Christopher Fung Ka-keung and Lingnan University student Chris Lo Wai-ming have been charged with organising an unauthorised public assembly, together with 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung, a leader of the April 5th Action Group. It is the first time such a charge has been laid since the handover.
The group was arrested last week, three months after their protest against the jailing of a social worker activist.
University student unions have called for a withdrawal of the charges - which they said were politically motivated - and for an amendment to the Public Order Ordinance so that prior police approval is not required for public assembly.
'Many students have said on Internet chat rooms that the arrests are a form of political persecution,' said president of Lingnan University's Student Union, Leung Sin-chi.
He agreed fellow students would be deterred from taking part in protest marches in future by the latest clampdown. His union might discuss the case with Lingnan president, Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, he added.
