Hong Kong: Two Hong Kong students who initiated the “Occupy Central” protest last year will stand trial on Friday for allegedly obstructing police officers from performing their duties. Joshua Wong Chi-fung, the leader of Scholarism, and Nathan Law Kwun-chung, secretary general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, were arrested on Tuesday and were accused of obstructing police officers during a demonstration in June 2014, China.org reported.
Scholarism and Hong Kong Federation of Students are pro-democracy student activist groups. The two may face imprisonment up to two years if found guilty. The Occupy Central protest in Hong Kong started on September 28, 2014 and lasted for about 80 days. Protestors blockaded several main roads and streets, which resulted in serious traffic disruption, fewer tourists, temporary closure of schools and banks, and a slump in local stock market trading. There were also a series of clashes between protestors and police. The protests began after China announced that Hong Kong’s citizens would be able to vote directly for one of two or three vetted candidates previously selected by a special commission.
–Indo-Asian News Service
ksk/ml/vm
(178 Words)
17071347
NNNN
