The Hongkong Department of Justice (DOJ), dissatisfied with the original sentence to “community service” for the pro-Independence protesters, has appealed for a much harsher, immediate prison sentence. Defendants may get sentenced to between two and six months. The length of the sentence is crucial not only because of the duration of the physical and mental punishment inflicted but also because a sentence of three or more months will disqualify the convicted from standing for office for the next five years! 

(Comments: Beijing appears determined to crush the democracy movement and the HK courts are increasingly under pressure. One of their leaders, Joshua Wong, incidentally, will be marking his 21^st birthday in prison this October.)