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Hong Kong Sentences 45 Democracy Activists for Subversion Under National Security Law

Nov 19, 2024, 02:40 AM

After a prolonged legal battle, a Hong Kong court on Tuesday sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to prison terms ranging from 4 to 10 years in the city's largest national security case to date. Legal scholar Benny Tai received the longest sentence of 10 years, while prominent activists including Joshua Wong and Gwyneth Ho received sentences of 4.6 years and 7 years, respectively. The activists, part of a group known as the "Hong Kong 47," were convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion under the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. The charges stemmed from their involvement in an unofficial primary election held in July 2020, in which over 610,000 Hong Kong residents voted. Authorities deemed the primary, aimed at securing a pro-democracy majority in the Legislative Council to veto bills, as a subversive attempt to undermine the government. The sentencing marks a significant blow to Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, with many of the activists having already been detained for over 1,400 days. The trial has drawn international condemnation and is seen as part of a broader crackdown on political dissent in the city.