Former University of Hong Kong Students Leader Escapes Jail Sentence For Protest - MA EduInfo.

Former students union president of the University of Hong Kong Billy Fung, 23, who helped lead a protest last year  about 200 students escapes jail sentence for campus protest. On Thursday he received a court sentence of community service for his role in a protest campus, escaping the fate of a growing list of young activists put behind bars.

The activists, many still university students, have been at the forefront of the former British colony's fight for democracy which peaked during the months-long "Umbrella Movement" street occupations in late 2014.

After failing to convince Beijing to allow full democracy in Hong Kong, many lost confidence in the city's "One country, two systems" arrangement, and began to call for total independence.

Billy Fung, 23, who helped lead a protest last year with 200 students seeking talks over the governance structure of the University of Hong Kong, was given 240 hours of community service for disorderly conduct in a public place, criminal damage and attempted forcible entry.

"I understand you have ideals and hope to change what is wrong in society," said magistrate Wai-hung.

"But when you think these ideals are the absolute truth, you may neglect that other people have the right and reasons to hold different opinions." Wearing ties with the university emblem, both Fung and another student leader, Colman Li, 22, who will serve 200 hours of community service, looked calm when the sentences were handed down, while about 100 young people in the courtroom were applauded.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997, with the promise of a large degree of autonomy and civil liberties not allowed in mainland China.

Over the past few years, police have charged up to 100 activists, most of them young, over anti-government protests, a list compiled by activist groups shows.

Fung's sentence came one month after jokes of youth activist Joshua Wong, who had helped lead tens of thousands onto Hong Kong's streets.

The issue of academic freedom has flared in recent weeks after a campus display of pro-independence banners drew the ire of Chinese state media and Hong Kong officials, triggering heated standoffs between local freedom advocates and pro-Chinese students and groups.

In Fung's case, the governance issue drew scrutiny after the university council blocked a prominent HKU law school dean and human rights advocate, Johannes Chan, from taking the post of pro-vice-chancellor.