Three young Hong Kong activists who led the city's massive "Umbrella Revolution" pro-democracy protests walked free from court today after a renewed bid by prosecutors to jail them.
It comes as tensions remain high in the semi-autonomous city with fears growing that China is tightening its grip, sparking a growing independence movement.
Nathan Law, 23, who was recently voted in as the city's youngest lawmaker and wants self-determination for Hong Kong, was one of the trio in court and slammed Wednesday's hearing as a political move.
"The Department of Justice and the government are basically hunting those (who took part in) civil disobedience and those who uphold democratic values," he told reporters.
Law, Joshua Wong and Alex Chow were all convicted in August for taking part in, or inciting others to take part in, a protest that led up to the major pro-democracy demonstrations of 2014 calling for fully free elections of the city's leader.
They were given community service or suspended sentences after the magistrate said she believed they had been "genuinely expressing their views" during the protest, which saw students climb over a fence into the Hong Kong government complex.
But prosecutors sought a sentence review in court today, asking for jail terms for the three.
They argued the protest they led was large-scale and that the defendants had not shown genuine remorse.
Magistrate June Cheung, who also handed down the original verdict and sentencing, dismissed the review case.
"During sentencing, I already took into account carefully the seriousness of the case, thus imposing community service as well as a suspended sentence -- which can legally replace jail terms -- to the three, who are first offenders," Cheung said.
It is not clear whether prosecutors will try to appeal further.
Law said prosecutors must have come under "huge political pressure" to bring the review.
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