hong kong former leader hong kong university student union thursday receive court sentence community service role campus protest escape fate grow list young activists put behind bar activists many still university students forefront former british colony fight democracy peak months-long umbrella movement street occupations late 2014. fail convince beijing allow full democracy hong kong many lose confidence city one country two systems arrangement begin call total independence billy fung 23 help lead protest last year 200 students seek talk governance structure university hong kong hku give 240 hours community service disorderly conduct public place criminal damage attempt forcible entry understand ideals hope change unjust society say magistrate ko wai-hung think ideals absolute truth may neglect people right reason hold different opinions wear tie university emblem fung another student leader colman li 22 serve 200 hours community service look calm sentence hand 100 young people courtroom applaud hong kong return chinese rule 1997 promise large degree autonomy civil liberties permit mainland china past years police charge 100 activists young anti-government protest list compile activist group show fung sentence come one month jail youth activist joshua wong help lead tens thousands onto hong kong streets issue academic freedom flare recent weeks campus display pro-independence banners draw ire chinese state media hong kong officials trigger heat standoffs local freedom advocate pro-china students group fung case governance issue draw scrutiny university council block prominent hku law school dean human right advocate johannes chan take post pro-vice-chancellor story refiled insert drop word sentence headline former hong kong student leader escape jail sentence campus protest