Hong Kong protest leaders to be prosecuted

Hong Kong March 27 (IANS) Some of the main leaders of Hong Kong s 2014 pro-democracy protest were informed on Monday that they will be prosecuted for participating in the historic protests against the Chinese government.

The development comes a day after Beijing-backed candidate Carrie Lam was elected Chief Executive of Hong Kong in an election process that has been widely criticised by pro-democracy groups Efe news reported.

We expect the political persecution against student-activists to continue said activist Joshua Wong who was one of the principal figures of the protests.

According to local media at least eight pro-democracy activists and lawmakers will be prosecuted.

Other activists summoned by the police include Tommy Cheung Sau-yin and Chung Yiu-wa former members of the Hong Kong Federation of Students one of the groups that mobilised people into action during the pro-democracy protests.

The vice-chairman of League of Social Democrats Raphael Wong Ho-ming wrote on his Facebook page that he too has been accused.

The activists and legislators stand accused of having disrupted public order.

The Umbrella Revolution emerged as a criticism of the restrictive electoral system that appoints Hong Kong s leader but ended without any progress for the democracy movements in the autonomous territory.

--IANS
ksk/vt