Eastern Court on Friday rejected an application by four pro-democracy activists to permanently halt proceedings against them for obstructing police officers – despite ruling that there were delays on the part of the prosecution in bringing the case to court.
Student leaders Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, as well as People Power legislator Albert Chan and League of Social Democrats member Raphael Wong, were arrested in July this year, for obstructing police officers during a demonstration in June last year. They said the 13-month lapse made a fair trial impossible for them.
But the magistrate, Chu Chung-keung, said despite delay, the four defendants would still be able to refresh their memory about the incident and find potential witnesses.
He ordered them to appear in court again on December 21 and extended their bail. A trial date has yet to be fixed.
The charges relate to a rally outside the central government’s Liaison Office in Western in June last year where protesters burned copies Beijing's White Paper on One Country, Two Systems. The paper stated that Beijing has comprehensive jurisdiction over Hong Kong. It also classified judges in Hong Kong as "administrators" and stated they must be patriotic - raising concerns over judicial independence in the territory.
Student leaders Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, as well as People Power legislator Albert Chan and League of Social Democrats member Raphael Wong, were arrested in July this year, for obstructing police officers during a demonstration in June last year. They said the 13-month lapse made a fair trial impossible for them.
But the magistrate, Chu Chung-keung, said despite delay, the four defendants would still be able to refresh their memory about the incident and find potential witnesses.
He ordered them to appear in court again on December 21 and extended their bail. A trial date has yet to be fixed.
The charges relate to a rally outside the central government’s Liaison Office in Western in June last year where protesters burned copies Beijing's White Paper on One Country, Two Systems. The paper stated that Beijing has comprehensive jurisdiction over Hong Kong. It also classified judges in Hong Kong as "administrators" and stated they must be patriotic - raising concerns over judicial independence in the territory.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1224821-20151120.htm
