Hong Kong teen faces trial over pro-democracy protest
Student activist leader Zeyar Lwin, right, holding banner reads, " Failed Law", gets off police truck along with Paing Ye Thu, back, upon arrival to face trial at a township court Tuesday, Aug 25, 2015, in Yangon, Myanmar. Three student leaders have been charged for their involvement in a march protesting a constitutional amendment.
HONG KONG >> Hong Kong teenage student leader Joshua Wong will face trial on charges relating to his role in storming government headquarters nearly a year ago in a protest that sparked monthslong pro-democracy street occupations.
Wong pleaded not guilty to charges of inciting and participating in an illegal assembly at a magistrates court on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old helped spearhead last year’s protest movement against Beijing’s plan to restrict elections for top leader of the semiautonomous Chinese city.
Students and other activists occupied streets in busy neighborhoods across the Asian financial hub for 79 days but the protest movement, which captured world headlines, fizzled out as authorities refused to budge.
Wong’s trial is set for Oct. 30. Two other student leaders also pleaded not guilty at the same hearing to similar charges.
