Hong Kong jails 45 pro-democracy activists in landmark national security trial | Real Time Headlines

Hong Kong’s High Court on Tuesday sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to up to 10 years in prison, following a landmark national security trial that damaged the city’s once-vibrant pro-democracy movement and drew criticism from the United States and other countries.

A total of 47 pro-democracy activists were arrested in 2021 and charged with conspiring to subvert state power under a national security law imposed by Beijing, and face penalties of up to life in prison.

Tai Yaoting, a former legal scholar identified as an activist “organizer”, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, the longest sentence to date under the 2020 national security law.

Some Western governments criticized the trial, which the United States called “Politically motivated” He said the Democrats should be released because they had been participating in political activities legally and peacefully.

The Chinese and Hong Kong governments say the national security law is necessary to restore order after massive pro-democracy protests in 2019, and Democrats have also been treated under local laws.

The charges relate to the organization of an informal “primary” in 2020 to select the best candidates for the upcoming legislative elections. Prosecutors accuse the activists of conspiring to engage in potentially destructive behavior to paralyze the government if elected.

After a 118-day trial, 14 Democrats were convicted in May, including Australian citizen Gordon Ng and activist Owen Chow, and two others were acquitted. The other 31 people pleaded guilty.

Australian Foreign Minister Wong Ying-yin said she was “gravely concerned” about the verdict and called on China to “stop suppressing freedoms of speech, assembly, media and civil society in Hong Kong”.

Sentences ranged from more than four years to 10 years.

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

Hendrick Lui was sentenced to more than four years in prison. Later, his mother Wu Aisha shouted: “He is a good man… He is not a political prisoner… Why does he have to go to prison?”

It’s unclear whether the defendants, some of whom have been detained for more than 3-1/2 years, will have their sentences reduced this time.

Hundreds of people had queued outside the court since the early hours, many holding umbrellas in light rain, trying to find seats in the main courtroom and several overflow courtrooms.

A heavy police presence, including police dogs, armored vehicles and vehicles with flashing lights, was deployed outside the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts and in several nearby blocks. Some people were searched and questioned.

“I feel like this injustice needs to be witnessed,” said a woman who gave her name only as Margaret, who had been waiting in line since Sunday afternoon. “I’ve been following their situation for a long time. They (Democrats) need to know they still have the support of the public.”

Critics say the ruling undermines Hong Kong’s status as a global financial center and comes as the city hosts an international financial summit to attract more business.

Marco Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, has been a staunch critic of the trial and in an earlier statement open letter The convictions were criticized as evidence of the national security law’s “comprehensive infringement of Hong Kong’s autonomy, rule of law and fundamental freedoms”.

Speaking outside the court building, Roxie Houge, chief of the political section of the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong, said the U.S. government condemns “Hong Kong’s continued prosecution of individuals who express political views… for exercising their freedom of speech.”

Britain, which handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997, said the security law was used to stifle dissent and freedoms.