Occupy Leader Urges Relaunch Of Political Reform

Occupy leader Reverend Chu Yiu-ming on Saturday urged the government to restart public consultation for political reform, warning that failure to do so would only spark more discontent in society.

Chu was on Wednesday given a suspended prison term for public nuisance charges in relation to the 79-day Occupy protests, while two other co-founders of the movement, Benny Tai and Chan Kin-man, were locked up for 16 months.

"My wish is that the government, as an open government, create an avenue, let the people's voice be heard," Chu said.

"If they close their ears, or shut their doors, I think it's a tragedy for Hong Kong's future," he told RTHK's Frances Sit.

Chu said the government cannot jail everybody who demands universal suffrage, and the issue should be solved by political means, rather than in courts.

Aside from Tai and Chan, legislator Shiu Ka-chun and activist Raphael Wong were also sent to prison, while four others charged in the same case received non-custodial sentences.