Hong Kong Court Convicts 14 Pro-Democracy Activists; Amnesty International: Aim is to Eradicate Political Opposition

A court in Hong Kong on Thursday, June 1, found fourteen pro-democracy activists guilty and acquitted only two of the defendants. These rulings, issued more than three years after the arrest of 47 pro-democracy figures under the new national security law imposed by China, represent another blow to the rule of law and Hong Kong's reputation as a global economic hub. The sentences for those found guilty will be announced soon and could range from three years in prison to life imprisonment. Reports indicate that among the detainees, 31 confessed to their crimes, and four appeared in court as witnesses in cooperation with the police. Diplomats from several countries, including the UK and the EU, attended the trial sessions. The United States and several other countries condemned the 'political motivation' behind this trial and called for the immediate release of the defendants. Penny Wong, Australia's Foreign Minister, stated that Australia has expressed its strong objection to Hong Kong authorities regarding the continued extensive application of national security laws to arrest and pressure pro-democracy figures. The statement noted that the Australian government is deeply concerned about the sentences issued and will continue its efforts to gain consular access to Gordon Ng, an Australian citizen among the convicted. Outside the courthouse, a large number of people gathered, and strict security measures were in place with a heavy presence of officers, dogs, and police vehicles. The charge against these pro-democracy activists was 'a wicked conspiracy to paralyze the government and force the leader of Hong Kong to resign' through pre-election voting in August 2020. However, pro-democracy advocates argue that this was an informal attempt to select the strongest candidates to achieve a historic majority in the Hong Kong Legislative Council. The three judges in their ruling claimed that if the defendants had succeeded, it would have created a 'constitutional crisis' for Hong Kong and led to 'serious interference, disruption, or undermining of the duties under the law of the [Hong Kong] government.' Chan Pui Ying, the wife of 68-year-old Leung, the oldest defendant in this trial, told Reuters before the verdict that her husband's mental state is not good and he 'has not adapted to life in prison... he always tells me he is innocent.' Chan and three other activists were arrested for attempting to hold protests outside the courthouse. Among the defendants, Lawrence Lau, a lawyer, and Lee Yu Shun, a social worker, were acquitted; however, prosecutors announced their intention to appeal the acquittal of these two. Widespread pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong began in 2019 against Beijing's plans to impose a law that pro-democracy advocates viewed as violating guaranteed freedoms in Hong Kong. In 2020, Beijing enacted a sweeping national security law that led to the mass arrest of pro-democracy fighters and the closure of liberal media and NGOs, while street marches and protests were halted due to severe police crackdowns. Sarah Brooks, director of Amnesty International in China, stated in a statement: 'This unprecedented conviction is the most brutal image of how the national security law in Hong Kong is used to silence dissent.' She described this action as 'the near-total eradication of political opposition.' In contrast, Beijing believes that national security laws have brought stability to Hong Kong and that human rights standards are being upheld.