Hong Kong court sentences 14 pro-democracy activists for “subversion”

Hong Kong justice has handed down its judgment in the most important trial against supporters of democracy since the takeover of the former British colony by China.

The largest trial against democracy supporters ended on Thursday, May 30, in Hong Kong. Local justice convicted 14 pro-democracy activists of “subversion”, citing a national security law promulgated by Beijing in mid-2020. It is also this law which muzzled all dissent in Hong Kong after major pro-democracy demonstrations, sometimes violent, which took place in 2019 in this territory returned to China in 1997.

Authorities have charged 47 leading opposition figures with “conspiracy to subvert”, saying the convicted activists planned to undermine government authority “would have led to a constitutional crisis for Hong Kong”, wrote three High Court judges. Most of the accused have been behind bars since 2021. In detail, the courts ruled on Thursday on the case of the 16 defendants who, among the 47, had pleaded not guilty. Sentencing is expected later this year.

On Thursday, High Court Justice Andrew Chan declined to name 14 defendants found guilty. They include former MPs “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung and Ray Chan as well as former journalist Gwyneth Ho. In addition, the court found two former district councilors, Lawrence Lau and Shun Lee, not guilty, but the The prosecutor’s office immediately announced that the Ministry of Justice would appeal this decision.

The European Union said “deeply concerned” after this decision, denouncing “a further deterioration of fundamental freedoms” in Chinese territory. “The accused (…) are penalized for their peaceful political activities which should be legitimate in any political system respecting fundamental democratic principles”declared a spokesperson for the head of EU diplomacy,