Hong Kong Jails 45 Pro-Democracy Activists in National Security Case

Hong Kong: Dozens of prominent activists were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison on Tuesday in Hong Kong's biggest national security case under a sweeping law imposed by Beijing that crushed a once-thriving pro-democracy movement.

defendants were prosecuted in 2021 for ir roles in an unofficial primary election under 2020 national security law. y were accused of attempting to paralyse Hong Kong's government and force city's leer to resign by aiming to win a legislative majority and using it to block government budgets indiscriminately.

45 convicted received prison terms ranging from four years and two months to 10 years. Legal scholar Benny Tai was given longest sentence.

y eir pleed guilty to or were found guilty of conspiracy to commit subversion by three government-approved judges. judges said in verdict that activists' plans to effect change through election would have undermined government's authority and created a constitutional crisis.

Two of 47 original defendants were acquitted.

Tai, who h written an article outlining "ten steps to mutual destruction" is widely seen as organiser behind unofficial primary. In a judgment uploed online, judges wrote that Tai essentially “vocated for a revolution” by publishing a series of articles over a period of months that traced his thinking, even though in his mitigation letter Tai said steps were “never intended to be used as blueprint for any political action.” Some defendants h claimed that scheme to secure a majority of seats in legislature would never have materialised, though judges rejected this reasoning, stating that “all participants h put in every endeavour to make it a success." In judgment, judges highlighted that a great deal of time, resources and money h been put into organisation of primary election, and rejected idea that scheme h been “doomed to fail.” “When Primary Election took place on 10 and 11 July, no one h remotely mentioned fact that Primary Election was no more than an acemic exercise and that Scheme was absolutely unattainable,” judgment re. “In order to succeed, organisers and participants might have hurdles to overcome, that however was expected in every subversion case where efforts were me to overthrow or paralyse a government.” judges said sentences h been reduced for defendants who said y were unaware plan to secure a majority in legislature and stall governance was unlawful.

However, penalties were not reduced for Tai and Alvin Yeung, as y are lawyers who were “absolutely amant in pushing for implementation of Scheme.” Observers said case illustrated how authorities suppressed dissent following huge anti-government protests in 2019, alongside media crackdowns and reduced public choice in elections.

drastic changes reflect how Beijing's promise to retain former British colony's civil liberties for 50 years when it returned to China in 1997 is increasingly threbare, y said.

Beijing and Hong Kong governments insist law is necessary for city's stability.

subversion case involves pro-democracy activists across spectrum. y include Tai, former student leer Joshua Wong and former lawmakers. Most of m have alrey been detained for more than three and a half years before sentencing. separations pained m and ir families.

As y pleed for lesser sentences, some activists were remorseful and apologised while ors remained defiant.

Lawyers for Tai and several or defendants argued ir clients genuinely believed ir actions were lawful at time.

More than 200 people stood in line in moderate rain and winds Tuesday morning for a seat in court, including one of acquitted defendants Lee Yue-shun. Lee said he hoped members of public would show y care about development of court case.

“ public's interpretation and understanding has a far-reaching impact on our society's future development,” he said.

A supporter locally known as “Grandpa Wong,” who did not know English spelling of his name, said he wanted to see convicted activists again. He is about 100 years old and feared he wouldn't be able to see m when y are released from prison.

Wei Siu-lik, a friend of convicted activist Clarisse Yeung, said she arrived at 4 am even though her leg was injured. “I wanted to let m know re are still many here coming here for m,” she said.

Thirty-one activists entered a guilty plea and have better chances of getting reduced sentences. law authorises a range of sentences depending on seriousness of offense and defendant's role in it, going from under three years for least serious to 10 years to life for people convicted of “grave” offenses.

unofficial primary in July 2020, which drew 6,10,000 voters, was meant to pick pro-democracy candidates who would n run in official election.

pro-democracy camp at that time hoped y could secure a legislative majority, which would allow m to press for 2019 protest demands, including greater police accountability and democratic elections for city leer.

But government postponed legislative election that would have followed primary, citing public health risks during COVID-19 pandemic.