Hong Kong prosecutors make second bid to beef up punishments for protesters
As in case of Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, prosecutors say not jailing people convicted over storming government buildings sends a bad message
Hong Kong prosecutors asked an appeal court on Monday to jail 13 protesters who avoided prison for storming the city’s legislature, saying the judiciary needed to send a “clear message” to other would-be protesters.
That protest was against the government’s plan to develop parts of the northeastern New Territories, which some feared would leave villagers homeless.
But on Monday senior prosecutor Jonathan Mak Tak-ho told the Court of Appeal the crime was serious because the group had teamed up with others when they stormed the Legco building, despite being aware of a police presence. He asked the court to jail them, as a deterrent.