Hong Kong protest leaders to be prosecuted

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

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