A court in Hong Kong on Thursday (May 30) convicted 14 pro-democracy activists in the biggest national security case under a law imposed by Beijing. The ones found guilty include former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong and Raymond Chan. The convicted individuals could face life in prison.
The convicted individuals were among 47 democracy advocates who were prosecuted in 2021 for the involvement in an unofficial primary election. Beijing accused them of attempting to paralyse Hong Kong's government and topple the city's leader by securing the legislative majority. Such majority is necessary to veto the budgets.
The subversion case shows how the security law is being used to crush the dissent and the political opposition amid huge anti-Beijing protests in 2019. But the Beijing and Hong Kong governments insist the law has helped bring back stability to the city.
When Hong Kong came under Chinese rule after British gave up on the city in 1997, the Communist China promised to retain the city's civil liberties for 50 years. But after the introduction of the 2020 law, Hong Kong authorities have severely limited free speech in the name of maintaining national security.
After the enactment of this law, many city-based activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile. Dozens of civil society groups disbanded.
Associated Press reported dozens of residents lined up outside the police-guarded court building before 6 AM (local time) to secure a seat in the public gallery.
Social worker Stanley Chang, a friend of one of the 16 defendants told Associated Press he arrived the site at 4 AM.
“I want to give some support for my friend and the faces I saw in news reports,” he said, who is in his 30s.
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SL Chiu told the Associated Press the hearing marked a historic moment.
"Hong Kongers are still here. We haven't given up. We are still with you all," he said.
