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Hong Kong ‘Occupy’ protest leaders deny public nuisance charges

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Three leaders of Hong Kong’s 2014 pro-democracy “Occupy” movement, which paralyzed components of the Chinese-ruled city for about 3 months, denied public nuisance charges on Monday as international criticism with the erosion of civil liberties grows.

Law professor Benny Tai, 54, retired sociologist Chan Kin-man, 59, and retired pastor Chu Yiu-ming, 74, face charges of conspiracy and incitement to commit public nuisance, and incitement to incite public nuisance.

The administered trial illustrates the tensions from the former British colony as disaffected democracy activists break the rules against attempts by Communist Party leaders in Beijing to tighten their grip for the city’s freedoms and autonomy.

Each charge posesses a maximum jail term of seven years. Six others, including two lawmakers, also are facing public nuisance charges from a trial that may be anticipated to last around 20 days.

In a show of defiance, the nine defendants and most 100 supporters unfurled yellow umbrellas, a symbol of the movement, beyond the court, clapping and demanding a finish to “political prosecution”.

“A movement could be crushed and not defeated,” the nine said in the joint statement. “These charges allow the government to abuse great and bad prosecution and infringe for the freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. The nine defendants unanimously just didn’t plead guilty.”

Tai told Reuters he hoped the trial will be a way to “reboot the spirit of your people”.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 within “one country, two systems” formula, with the guarantee of your high higher level of autonomy and freedoms denied citizens in mainland China, including freedom of speech as well as the to protest.

However, critics, including foreign governments, business groups and activists, mention that the guarantee is ringing increasingly hollow.

‘UNLAWFUL’ OCCUPATIONS

The court heard how in 2013, Tai, Chan and Chu began promulgating and refining their plans non-violent civil disobedience campaign to occupy streets during the Central business district should China not allow a democratic elect its next leader.

The “Occupy” campaign germinated in September 2014, ahead of schedule, and have become element of what grew into the biggest populist challenge to Beijing since the Tiananmen Square demonstrations in Beijing in 1989.

Hundreds of hundreds of people, including many youngsters and students, latched onto the streets in sustained occupation of major streets.

Government prosecutor Andrew Bruce detailed in the courtroom the way the three “Occupy” leaders had given speeches and interviews urging the best way to to participate in the “unlawful occupations”.

He said this had been a “joint enterprise” to conspire individuals in order to fuel the movement for just a “prolonged and indefinite” time.

Lawyers for your defendants, however, questioned the basis due to this allegation.

The six other defendants are veteran democratic party member Lee Wing-tat, democratic lawmakers Tanya Chan and Shiu Ka-chun, activist Raphael Wong and former student leaders Eason Chung and Tommy Cheung.

“Even if the court finds us guilty, history will demonstrate that individuals committed no crime,” Cheung, now a columnist, told reporters.

Some critics repeat the case would have repercussions for many hundreds of other protesters who have not been charged, and make up a chilling impact on the Hong Kong democracy movement.

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission warned inside of a are accountable to Congress yesterday that China had “ramped up its interference” in Hong Kong along “closed around the political space for pro-democracy activists to express discontent”.

Authorities have banned a political party advocating Hong Kong independence, barred democracy activists from contesting local elections and disqualified six opposition lawmakers on the legislature.

A senior Financial Times journalist, Victor Mallet, was barred in the city this month after he helped host an independence activist for the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in doing what critics said was another panic attack on freedom of speech.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has repeatedly stressed Hong Kong respects media along with freedoms but has to date refused to allow learn more for denying Mallet entry.

(Reporting by James Pomfret; Editing by Paul Tait and Nick Macfie)

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