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Hong Kong: Joshua Wong, two pro-democracy activists face five years in prison

The three of the were taken away ahead of a sentencing hearing on Wednesday

HONGKONG-PROTESTS/TAIWAN Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong | Reuters

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong faces five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges to starting protests outside a police station last year when Hong Kong was in a state of unrest with months of unrest over a proposed extradition bill with China. Pro-democracy leaders Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam face jail time for the same charges. 

The three of them were taken away ahead of a sentencing hearing on Wednesday. The trial was scheduled to begin on Monday, but they pleaded guilty. 

The high-profile pro-democracy activists face multiple charges over inciting other to take part in unauthorised protests outside police headquarters in June. 

Wong and Lam had initially intended to fight the charges, changed their minds on advice from lawyers on Sunday. 

Chow, who was also arrested under the national security law in August, had already decided to plead guilty earlier this year, a CNN report reads.

Wong told CNN, it "would not be surprising" if the court had him detained, but said, "neither prison bars, nor election ban, nor any other arbitrary powers would stop us."

"Perhaps the authorities wish me to stay in prison one term after another," he said. "What we are doing now is to explain the value of freedom to the world, through our compassion to whom we love, so much that we are willing to sacrifice the freedom of our own."

Wong, who pleaded guilty to organising and inciting the unauthorised assemble, had earlier said that their case is a mild one as the charges stemmed from early on in the protest. Wong urged people to focus on the plight of the Hong Kong 12, the group accused of attempting to travel illegally to Taiwan by boat in August.

Under the national security law that outlaws sedition, secession, foreign collusion and terrorism imposed by China in June, at least 31 people have been arrested. Several protestors facing charges under the law have fled overseas. 

Right before the legislative council elections which were to be held in September were postponed, several pro-democracy politicians including Joshua Wong was barred from contesting. The elections were postponed, citing the coronavirus as a reason. On November 11, after four lawmakers were disqualified from the legislative council, 19 pro-democracy lawmakers stepped down in protest. 

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