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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong protests student leaders go on trial | Hong Kong protests student leaders go on trial |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Three prominent student leaders in Hong Kong have gone on trial for their roles in 2014's mass pro-democracy protests. | Three prominent student leaders in Hong Kong have gone on trial for their roles in 2014's mass pro-democracy protests. |
| Joshua Wong, Alex Chow and Nathan Law pleaded not guilty to charges of taking part, and inciting others to take part, in an unlawful assembly. | |
| The three are accused of breaking into a government compound during a student protest in September 2014. | The three are accused of breaking into a government compound during a student protest in September 2014. |
| Images of them being forcibly removed by police, and allegations of abuse, sparked huge demonstrations. | Images of them being forcibly removed by police, and allegations of abuse, sparked huge demonstrations. |
| The trial is expected to last for a week. | The trial is expected to last for a week. |
| 'No political prosecution' | 'No political prosecution' |
| The trial has prompted an expression of concern from the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China which monitors human rights development. | The trial has prompted an expression of concern from the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China which monitors human rights development. |
| Its chairman, Chris Smith, said the trial was "nothing more than political muscle flexing, targeting those who dared to stand up for freedom and democracy." | Its chairman, Chris Smith, said the trial was "nothing more than political muscle flexing, targeting those who dared to stand up for freedom and democracy." |
| On Monday the Hong Kong government responded saying: "When making a prosecutorial decision, the Department (of Justice) does not take into account any political considerations and there is no question of political prosecution whatsoever." | On Monday the Hong Kong government responded saying: "When making a prosecutorial decision, the Department (of Justice) does not take into account any political considerations and there is no question of political prosecution whatsoever." |
| It added that the commission's remarks were "inappropriate" as the legal case was ongoing, and added that "no foreign governments" should intervene in Hong Kong trials. | It added that the commission's remarks were "inappropriate" as the legal case was ongoing, and added that "no foreign governments" should intervene in Hong Kong trials. |
| In September 2014, tens of thousands occupied major streets in the city's Central district in the weeks following the students' protest and brought the city to a standstill, in the Occupy Central protests. | In September 2014, tens of thousands occupied major streets in the city's Central district in the weeks following the students' protest and brought the city to a standstill, in the Occupy Central protests. |
| Protesters were demanding free elections for the city's next leader amid a pro-democracy movement, also known as the Umbrella Movement. | Protesters were demanding free elections for the city's next leader amid a pro-democracy movement, also known as the Umbrella Movement. |
| Nearly two years on from the protests, the city is still seeing simmering tensions amid wariness of Beijing's growing influence. | Nearly two years on from the protests, the city is still seeing simmering tensions amid wariness of Beijing's growing influence. |
| Earlier this month clashes broke out in the Mong Kok district after police attempted to clear illegal hawkers, seen as integral to local culture. | Earlier this month clashes broke out in the Mong Kok district after police attempted to clear illegal hawkers, seen as integral to local culture. |