Joshua Wong To Walk Free From Prison

Joshua Wong, the student leader who became the face of Hong Kong's "Umbrella Movement" democracy protests nearly five years ago, will be released from prison on Monday, his party said late on Sunday.

In a statement, Demosisto -- the party he co-founded -- said the 22-year-old activist would be released from the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre at 10.30am.

Wong was sent back to prison in May after he lost an attempt to quash a jail sentence over his role in the huge democracy protests he helped lead in 2014.

His release comes as the city is rocked by huge protests, this time sparked by mass public opposition to a plan to allow extraditions to the mainland.

Organisers said almost two million people turned out on Sunday for the mammoth rally.

Wong, who was 17 when the 2014 protests began, was jailed for three months in January 2018 on a contempt charge after pleading guilty to obstructing the clearance of a major protest camp.

He served only six days of that sentence before being released on bail, pending an appeal.

In mid-May, however, a senior judge said Wong must return to jail -- albeit for a reduced sentence of two months.

A release on Monday morning would mean he will have served exactly half his sentence, a common policy in Hong Kong for prisoners who exhibit good behaviour. (AFP)