Tang Kai-Yin, 31, and Quinn Moon, 33, were found guilty of organising an illegal border crossing and sentenced to three years and two years, respectively, with fines of 20,000 and 15,000 yuan. Two minors who were travelling on the boat and who had pleaded guilty to illegal border crossing would not be charged, the prosecutor said. Earlier, media reported that the youngest of the 12 activists - 11 males and one female aged 16-33 - would be transferred to Hong Kong authorities. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of freedoms not seen on the mainland, including freedom of speech and assembly. Democracy activists complain that Communist Party rulers in Beijing are whittling away at those freedoms, a charge Beijing rejects.

Source: bd News24 December 30, 2020 04:18 UTC