'No Regrets' Over Occupy Protests: Raphael Wong

Pro-democracy activist Raphael Wong said on Sunday that he has “no regrets” over his role in the 2014 pro-democracy Occupy Movement, two days before West Kowloon Court is due to deliver its verdict on a slew of public-nuisance-related charges related to the mass protests.

Wong, the vice-chairman of the League of Social Democrats, and eight other prominent pro-democracy leaders face possible prison terms if convicted, but speaking on RTHK’s City Forum, he said he’s taking the possibility of years behind bars in stride.

He will be busy having dinner with his mother and arranging his books before then, Wong said.

“The only thing I want to say is no matter what sentence I will be given, I encourage all Hong Kong people to keep going and perpetually fight for Hong Kong democracy”, Wong said.

He also urged people to take to the streets to protest against government plans to amend a law that will allow fugitives to be handed over to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong has no formal extradition agreement.

Wong and other critics are worried Beijing may abuse this arrangement against political targets here.

The activist also spoke out in defence of the 2014 movement, after another speaker at the forum, barrister Lawrence Ma, compared the protests to a rape or sexual assault.

Ma said the protesters were wrong to break the law by occupying the streets to further their political goals, and said their behaviour is like a spurned man who assaults or rapes the woman he covets.

Wong said no such comparison can be made, while former student leader Lester Shum said civil disobedience is the last line of defence when the government complete ignores the wishes of the people that are expressed through lawful protests.