Hong Kong Court Convicts 14 Pro-Democracy Activists on Subversion Charges in Landmark Security Trial

May 30, 2024, 02:15 AM

A Hong Kong court has found 14 pro-democracy activists guilty of subversion in the city's largest national security trial since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law. The trial, which began in February 2023 and lasted 118 days, involved 47 opposition figures accused of conspiracy to subvert state power. Among the 47, 31 had pleaded guilty at the start of the trial, while 16 pleaded not guilty. The verdicts were delivered over two days, with two of the 16 found not guilty. Four of the defendants had been remanded for over 1,180 days, and two others for 950-970 days. The case has significant implications for Hong Kong's opposition democratic movement and the city's reputation as a global financial hub.