Hong Kong’s Joshua Wong to plead guilty to protest charges

Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong said Monday that he plans to ple guilty to charges related to a demonstration outside police hequarters during anti-government protests last year. Ahe of a court hearing Monday, Wong said that he and fellow activist Ivan Lam would both ple guilty to organizing, taking part in and inciting protesters to join an unauthorized protest outside police hequarters in Wan Chai last June. Both Wong and Lam were members of w-disbanded Demosisto political party.

“I am persued that neir prison bars, r election ban, r any or arbitrary powers would stop us from activism,” Wong said.

“What we are doing w is to explain value of freedom to world, through our compassion to whom we love, so much that we are willing to sacrifice freedom of our own. I’m prepared for thin chance of walking free.”

Those found guilty of taking part in an unlawful assembly could face as long as five years in prison depending on severity of offense. Wong rose to prominence as a student leer during 2014 Umbrella Movement pro-democracy protests and is among a growing number of activists being charged for various relatively mir offenses since Beijing in June imposed a sweeping national security law on territory that has severely restricted political speech.

Pro-democracy supporters have said legal charges are part of a campaign to harass and intimidate m. Lam, who also spoke ahe of court hearing, said he too was prepared to be jailed. Wong wrote on his Facebook p on Sunday that he and Lam h decided to ple guilty after consulting with ir lawyers. two previously pleed t guilty to charges. Ar activist, Agnes Chow, has alrey pleed guilty to charges of inciting ors and taking part in protest.

“If I am sentenced to prison this time, it will be first time in my life that I have been in jail,” Chow wrote on her Facebook p on Sunday.

“Although I am mentally prepared, I still feel a little bit scared. However, compared to many friends, I have suffered very little. When I think of this, I will try my best to face it bravely,” she wrote. 

(Im Credits: AP)