Hong Kong Jails 45 Democracy Activists In National Security Trial

In a landmark national security trial that has damaged the city’s once feisty democracy movement and drawn international condemnation, Hong Kong’s High Court on Tuesday sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to jail terms of up to 10 years.

A total of 47 pro-democracy activists were arrested and charged in 2021 with conspiracy to commit subversion under a Beijing-imposed national security law and faced sentences of up to life in prison.

Benny Tai, a former legal scholar who was labeled as an “organizer” of the 47 pro-democracy activists, was sentenced to 10 years in jail.

According to court documents, the sentences ranged from just over four years to 10 years and the charges related to the organizing of an unofficial “primary election” in 2020 to select the best candidates for an upcoming legislative election.

The activists were accused by prosecutors of plotting to paralyze the government by engaging in potentially disruptive acts had they been elected.

The United States (US) criticized the trial as “politically motivated” and said the activists should be released as they had been “peacefully participating in political activities” that were legal.

Sen. Marco Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee as Secretary of State, has been a staunch critic of the trial and in an earlier open letter criticized the convictions of the 47 democrats as evidence of the national security law’s “comprehensive assault on Hong Kong’s autonomy, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms.”

The ruling, which critics maintain tarnishes Hong Kong’s role as a global financial hub, comes as the city is hosting an international financial summit to attract more business.

However, the Chinese and Hong Kong governments say the national security laws were necessary to restore order after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019, and the democrats have been treated as per the existing local laws.

“I feel such an injustice needs witnessing,” said Margaret, 59, dressed in a white raincoat and black facemask, who had been in the queue since Sunday afternoon. “I’ve long followed their case. They (the democrats) need to know they still have public support.”

Closely Watched Trial
The charges related to the organizing of an unofficial “primary election” in 2020 to select the best candidates for an upcoming legislative election. The activists were accused by prosecutors of plotting to paralyze the government by engaging in potentially disruptive acts had they been elected.

After a 118-day trial, 14 of the democrats were found guilty in May, including Australian citizen Gordon Ng and activist Owen Chow, while two were acquitted. The other 31 pleaded guilty, including student activists, Joshua Wong and Tai.

Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to four years and eight months in jail, while Chow was sentenced to seven years and nine months; former journalist-turned-activist Gwyneth Ho, was sentenced to seven years.

Elsa Wu, the mother of Hendrick Lui, who was sentenced to more than four years in jail, was taken away in a police van outside the courtroom and shouted: “He’s a good person … he’s not a political prisoner … why does he have to go to jail?” She screamed before the police slammed the van door.

Hundreds of people had queued from the early hours outside the court, many holding umbrellas in light rain as they tried to secure a seat within the main courtroom and several spillover courts.

The authorities deployed a tight police presence outside the West Kowloon Magistrates Court and for several blocks near the area.

Britain, which handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997, has said the 2020 security law has been used to curb dissent and freedom. – With agency reports