Hong Kong Hong Kong activists have jail sentences overturned Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow convicted over 2014 democracy protests Joshua Wong, Alex Chow and Nathan Law outside the court of final appeal in Hong Kong. Photograph: Bobby Yip/ReutersThree prominent Hong Kong democracy activists have won an appeal in the territory’s highest court against jail sentences relating to the 2014 “umbrella movement” protests, but were warned that future acts of civil disobedience would be dealt with harshly. A five-judge panel at the court of final appeal said those sentences applied a new standard “retroactively”, and overturned the prison terms. But in an increasingly divided Hong Kong, the court’s warning that “it is now necessary to emphasise deterrence and punishment” struck an ominous note. “The Hong Kong government has redoubled efforts to weaken pro-democracy voices,” said Maya Wang, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Source: The Guardian February 06, 2018 08:33 UTC