A Hong Kong court yesterday found 14 people guilty of subversion in the biggest case against democracy campaigners since China imposed a National Security Law.
The verdicts cap a trial in which 47 people were charged for organizing an unofficial election in 2020, activities that the court ruled were a threat to the government.
The 47 were arrested in dawn raids in January 2021 and charged with subversion for organizing the election, which aimed to shortlist candidates for the territory’s Legislative Council.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Prosecutors said the 47 had conspired to subvert state power by holding the unofficial primary polls, which aimed to secure a legislative majority for the pro-democracy bloc.
The 14 found guilty, along with 31 others who pleaded guilty, could face life in jail. Two were found not guilty.
“In our view ... that would create a constitutional crisis for Hong Kong,” said a court statement summarizing the reasons for the verdict by three judges.
Britain, Australia and the EU condemned the verdicts.
Lawrence Lau (劉偉聰), one of the defendants found not guilty, called for people to keep supporting the rest of the group.
“I hope that everyone will continue to [have] concern for our other friends in the case,” Lau told reporters outside the court.
Hong Kong authorities announced later that they would appeal the two not-guilty verdicts.
Ahead of the verdicts, a small group from the League of Social Democrats attempted to stage a small protest.
“Hong Kong should still be a place with freedom of expression and of assembly,” said League of Social Democrats chairwoman Chan Po-ying (陳寶瑩), who is the wife of defendant Leung Kwok-hung (梁國雄).
Chan and three others were later arrested, rights advocate Figo Chan (陳皓桓) wrote on Facebook.
Police said that the campaigners were arrested for “actions that disrupted public order.”
Alexandra Wong (王鳳瑤), known as Grandma Wong, also attempted to stage a protest before police moved her across the street to a fenced-off area.
“Immediately release the 47,” she shouted, waving a British flag. “Support democracy, support the 47.”
The EU said that the convictions mark “a further deterioration of fundamental freedoms and democratic participation in Hong Kong.”
“The case also puts into question Hong Kong’s commitment to openness and pluralism, which have been cornerstones of the city’s attractiveness as an international commercial and financial center,” it said.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (黃英賢) voiced deep concern over the convictions, adding that she would raise the fate of an Australian citizen among those found guilty at the “highest levels.”
The British Consulate-General said in a statement that the case demonstrated “the erosion of meaningful political opposition in Hong Kong.”
China said that it “firmly supports” Hong Kong’s law enforcement and judicial authorities in “punishing” acts that violated national security.
“No one can engage in unlawful activities in the name of democracy and then try to escape the sanction of the law,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning (毛寧) told a regular briefing. “We resolutely oppose any interference in China’s internal affairs by individual countries.”
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