Hong Kong protests: opposition activists vow to fight on despite threat of stiffer sentences after prosecutors up charges
- Move could see five spend longer behind bars if convicted with new charge carrying maximum five-year jail term
- Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan, Leung Kwok-hung, Cyd Ho and Figo Chan among group of 15 arrested over protests that also includes Jimmy Lai and Martin Lee
Fifteen leading opposition figures vowed to fight on for Hong Kong’s rights after making court appearances on Monday in cases related to last year’s anti-government protests, with five now facing tougher charges.
Former pro-democracy lawmakers Albert Ho Chun-yan, Lee Cheuk-yan, “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, Cyd Ho Sau-lan and activist Figo Chan Ho-wun face the extra charge of “incitement to knowingly take part in an unauthorised assembly” at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court.
If convicted on that charge, the five could spend longer behind bars.
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The British Foreign Office, the European Union, and United Nations human rights experts have all expressed concern over the arrests, related to a series of marches that took place in Causeway Bay on August 18, and in Central on October 1 and October 20.
Speaking before the hearing, Lee Cheuk-yan said “the root of the disturbance” was the undermining of local freedoms by Beijing and city leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.
“What is on trial here is the human rights of Hong Kong. We are all on trial,” his co-defendant Leung Kwok-hung added.
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