Agnes Chow, center, a prominent pro-democracy activist who was sentenced to jail last year for her role in an unauthorized protest, is released in Hong Kong Saturday, June 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow has been released from jail after serving more than six months for taking part in unauthorised assemblies during massive 2019 anti-government protests that triggered a crackdown on dissent in the former British colony. Critics say China is routinely violating commitments it made to preserve freedoms promised to Hong Kong for 50 years following the handover to Chinese rule in 1997. Beijing fought back with the national security law, which has snuffed out dissent in the semi-autonomous territory. The national security law has given authorities broad powers to monitor speech online, making it difficult to organise opposition gatherings or even express views critical of the government or Beijing.

Source: Irish Independent June 12, 2021 12:22 UTC