Hong Kong student who slammed Stormont leaders over their reported support for China is jailed for taking part in rally

A Hong Kong student who criticised DUP and Sinn Fein leaders for reportedly backing China’s crackdown has been jailed, it has emerged.
Joshua Wong, the Hong Kong democracy activist, who said in August it would be "unbelievably scandalous" if Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill had said they "understood and respected" Beijing's policy. He has now been jailed for his role in a protestJoshua Wong, the Hong Kong democracy activist, who said in August it would be "unbelievably scandalous" if Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill had said they "understood and respected" Beijing's policy. He has now been jailed for his role in a protest
Joshua Wong, the Hong Kong democracy activist, who said in August it would be "unbelievably scandalous" if Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill had said they "understood and respected" Beijing's policy. He has now been jailed for his role in a protest

In August Joshua Wong, 24, responded angrily to a claim by the Chinese consulate in Belfast that Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill had told the consul that Stormont “understands and respects” the Hong Kong crackdown.

Wong told his 650,000 Twitter followers it would be “unbelievably scandalous if it is really the case that the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland have said they ‘understand and respect’ Beijing’s human rights abuses under its sweeping national security law”.

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But Mrs Foster and Ms O’Neill denied they had given such support and China retracted the claim. Mrs Foster said her position on Hong Kong is the same as that of the UK.

Writing in today’s News Letter, John Cushnahan, former Alliance Party leader, condemns this month’s jailing of Wong for his part in a rally demanding that the Hong Kong government withdraw an extradition to China bill.

Mr Cushnahan, who was an MEP and European Parliament Rapporteur on Hong Kong, details other jailings and says international condemnation of China is a “totally insufficient” response.

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