Trial of student protest leader Joshua Wong for break-in begins

FilephototakenoutsideLegCobuildnginAdmiraltydistrictonOct5,2014inHongKong.(AFPPHOTO/XAUMEOLLEROS)

(CHINA DAILY) Morethan20witnesseswilllinkatrioofstudentprotestleaderstothebreak-inattheLegislativeCouncilgrounds—whichsparkednearlythreemonthsofcivildisobedience,trafficjamsanddisruptionstoschools,businessesandtradein2014.

ThetrialofstudentprotestfigureJoshuaWongChi-fungisfinallyunderwayatEasternMagistrates’Courtmorethanayearaftertheendoftheillegal“OccupyCentral”movement.WongappearedincourtonMondaytoanswerchargesrelatingtohisroleintheSept26invasionof“CivicSquare”.

ProsecutionlawyerDavidLeungCheuk-yinintendstoproveWongwasinstrumentalinleadingthisinvasionaswellasactivelyrecruitingotherstohiscause.Morethan20policeofficersandsecurityguardspresentattheevent,whichwascapturedoncameras,areexpectedtotestify.

Theseven-daytrialheldbeforejudgeJuneCheungTin-nganbeganonMondaywithtestimonyfromStaffSergeantTsuiMing-waiandPoliceConstableLeungYik-cheung.Theyprovidedcommentarytofilmfootageofthebreak-in.Wongwaspositivelyidentifiedamonganumberofyouthscaughtoncameraentering“CivicSquare”,whichhadbeencordonedoff.

TsuiandLeungwereamongeightprosecutionwitnessesthatlinkWongtothescene.TheydetailedtheleadershiproleWongplayedthatnight,usingabullhorntourgeprotesterstostormthegovernmentcompoundalongsidehimaswellasencouragingpeopleleavingthescenetoremain.

Wong,alongwithLawKwun-chungandAlexChowYong-kang,faceschargesofincitingotherstoparticipateinanillegalassemblyandalsotakingpartinanunlawfulassembly.

WhileWongpleadedforfellowstudentstoremainandjoininthebreak-in,Lawappealedtothoseinthecrowdtospreadwordoftheirprotestthroughsmartphonesandsocialmediainanattempttorecruitmoreallies,accordingtotheprosecution.ThecourtviewednewsinterviewsofChowshowinghimofferingjustificationsfortheillegalassemblyhewasparticipatingin.

Thetriopleadednotguiltytoallchargeslinkedtotheinvasionwhichspawnedtheillegal“Occupy”movement.ThisspreadfromAdmiraltytoMongKokandCausewayBaybeforecourt-orderedinjunctionswereservedtoreopenstreets.

Wongfacesuptofiveyearsinprisonoverthecharges.Heisalreadyembroiledinseveralcourtcases.WongisduebackincourtinMay,whenhewillstandtrialforaprotestwhichsawdozensofpeoplesetafireoutsidetheLiaisonOfficeoftheCentralPeople’sGovernmentintheHKSARinJune2014.