Deliveries of verdicts in Hong Kong’s largest national security case, involving some of the city’s most prominent pro-democracy activists, are expected as early as Thursday, more than three years after the defendants were arrested.
In 2021, 47 pro-democracy activists were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the Beijing-imposed national security law for their participation in an unofficial primary election. The mass prosecution stifled the city’s once-thriving political activism and dampened hopes for a more democratic Hong Kong.
Sixteen of the 47 defendants will soon find out their fate and could potentially face life in prison if found guilty.
Critics argue that the law has significantly eroded the freedoms crucial for maintaining Hong Kong’s status as a global financial hub. “It is a trial of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong,” said Eric Lai, a research fellow at Georgetown Center for Asian Law.
Here’s what you need to know about this security case.
Who Are the 47 Activists?
The group of 47 activists includes well-known democracy advocates in Hong Kong, ranging in age from their 20s to 60s.
Among them are legal scholar Benny Tai, former pro-democracy lawmakers like Claudia Mo and Alvin Yeung, as well as activists Joshua Wong and Lester Shum. Many have been held in custody without bail for over three years.
Sixteen of the defendants, including former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung and Raymond Chan, began their trial in 2023 after pleading not guilty. The court has set two days for delivering their verdicts.
Thirty-one others, including Tai, Mo, Yeung, Wong, and Shum, have pleaded guilty and are likely to receive shorter jail terms. Their sentencing will take place at a later date.
What Was the Primary Election?
In the midst of widespread anti-government protests in 2019, the pro-democracy camp aimed to make gains in the 2020 legislative election. The primary election was intended to select pro-democracy candidates for the official election.
The camp hoped to gain a majority in the legislature to advocate for protester demands, including enhanced police accountability and democratic elections for the city’s leaders.
Despite warnings from the government that the vote might violate the national security law, the pro-democracy primary took place in July 2020 and attracted a sizable turnout of 610,000 voters – over 13 percent of the city’s registered electorate.
How Did the Two Sides Argue Their Cases?
The prosecutors alleged that the defendants had conspired to obstruct government budgets to coerce the city leader to disband the legislature and resign.
Defense lawyers argued that their clients were merely seeking democratic elections for residents to elect the city’s leader and lawmakers, not engaging in unlawful activities to subvert state power.
The verdict will serve as a test to see how the national security law is being applied to political opponents and activist movements in Hong Kong.
Following the verdict, the court is expected to schedule hearings for any convicted defendants to request reduced sentences before final sentencing