Hong Kong: 12 Sentenced Over 2019 Pro-Democracy Protests
The Facts
A Hong Kong court on Saturday sentenced 12 people, including actor Gregory Wong, for storming the city's legislative council building during the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
Wong, who had pleaded not guilty, has been jailed for six years and two months, while political activist Owen Chow, who had pleaded guilty, received a prison term of 61 months and 15 days.
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
The 2019 incident was a severe affront to the city's rule of law, posing a direct challenge to the Hong Kong government and its Legislative Council. Those who forced their way into the building, causing extensive damage, were not mere protesters but traitors who must face the repercussions of their unlawful actions.
Anti-China narrative
The government is equally responsible for the 2019 event as it refused to withdraw the controversial extradition bill despite one million Hongkongers marching against it. The legislature, as well as the criminal justice system, continue to treat the pro-democracy protesters extraordinarily harshly. Until the city is given a high degree of autonomy, residents will continue to stand up to preserve their economic and social systems.
