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WORLD NEWS Saturday 31 auguSt 2019
Hong Kong democracy activists get bail, protest march banned

By KEN MORITSUGU earlier this week for alleged ping away at the rights of
Associated Press involvement in the storming Hong Kong residents.
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong of the legislative building The extradition bill was sus-
Kong activist Joshua Wong on July 1, when protesters pended but the protesters
and another core member broke in and vandalized want it withdrawn and are
of a pro-democracy group the main chamber. also demanding democ-
were granted bail Friday A leader of the Civil Human racy and an independent
after being charged with Rights Front, which had inquiry into police actions
inciting people to join a called Saturday's march, against protesters.
protest in June, while au- said that Hong Kong resi- Demosisto first reported
thorities denied permission dents would have to think the arrests of Wong and
for a major march as they about other ways to voice Chow on its social media
took what appears to be a their anger if the police accounts, saying Wong
harder line on this summer's keep banning protests. was pushed into a private
protests. "The first priority of the Civil car as he was heading to a
The organizers of Saturday's Human Rights Front is to Pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong, right, and Agnes Chow subway station around 7:30
speak to media outside a district court in Hong Kong, Friday,
march, the fifth anniver- make sure that all of the Aug. 30, 2019. a.m. and was taken to po-
sary of a decision by China participants who partici- Associated Press lice headquarters. It later
against allowing fully dem- pate in our marches will said Chow had also been
ocratic elections for the be physically and legally Demosisto is not a leader The protests were set off by arrested, at her home.
leader of Hong Kong, said safe. That's our first prior- of this year's movement, extradition legislation that Chow echoed Wong's
they were calling it off after ity," said Bonnie Leung. which describes itself as would have allowed sus- comments, saying "we
an appeals board denied "And because of the deci- "leaderless," though Wong pects to be sent to main- Hong Kong people won't
permission. It was unclear sion made by the appeal has spoken out regularly in land China to face trial and give up and won't be
whether some protesters board, we feel very sorry support of the demonstra- expanded to general con- scared ... we will keep fight-
would still demonstrate on but we have no choice but tions. cerns that China is chip- ing for democracy."q
their own. to cancel the march."
The police commander of Police arrested Wong
Hong Kong island, Kwok and Agnes Chow on Fri-
Pak Chung, appealed to day morning. They were
people to stay away from charged with participating
any non-authorized rallies, in and inciting others to join
warning that those caught an unauthorized protest
could face a five-year jail outside a police station on
term. June 21. Wong was also
He told a daily news con- charged with organizing it.
ference that he was aware "We will continue our fight
of social media messages no matter how they arrest
urging people to take strolls and prosecute us," Wong
or hold rallies in the name told reporters outside a
of religion. Kwok urged the courthouse after they were
public to "make a clear released on bail.
break with all acts of vio- Wong, one of the student
lence and stay away from leaders of the Umbrella
locations where violent Movement in 2014, was re-
clashes may take place." leased from prison in June
Police have been reject- after serving a two-month
ing more applications for sentence related to that
rallies and marches, citing major pro-democracy pro-
violence at or after earlier test.
ones. They also are arrest- Wong and Chow, both 22,
ing people for protests ear- are members of Demosisto,
lier this summer, a step they a group formed by Wong
said was a natural devel- and others in 2016 to advo-
opment as investigations cate self-determination for
were completed. Hong Kong. Chow tried to
Andy Chan, the leader of a run for office last year, but
pro-independence move- was disqualified because
ment, was arrested at the of the group's stance on
airport Thursday night un- self-determination. China
der suspicion of rioting and does not consider indepen-
attacking police. Three oth- dence an option for the
er protesters were taken in semi-autonomous territory.

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