CAN FOLLOW CHINA DISSIDENT TRIAL A group of around thirty democracy activists in Hong Kong have marched to the local branch of the official Chinese Xinhua news agency to protest against last week's sentencing of three dissidents in China.

The protestors among them, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China demanded the release of the dissidents Wang Youcai, Qin Yongmin and Xu Wenli who were given heavy jail sentences this week for trying to create an opposition political party.

The human rights activists also demanded the immediate release of a veteran labour activist Zhang Shanguang.

In their petition, the protestors called on the Chinese government to follow the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights which recognises the right to assembly.