Fourteen pro-democracy activists have been found guilty of subversion in Hong Kong, marking the largest case under the national security law imposed by China. The verdict, delivered by a panel of judges handpicked by Hong Kong's government, relates to unofficial election primaries held in 2020. The convicted individuals include former lawmakers and activists such as Helena Wong, Leung Kwok-hung, Gwyneth Ho, and Gordon Ng, a Hong Kong-Australian dual national.
The trial, which lasted ten months, concluded over 1,000 days after the initial arrests. The defendants were found guilty of “conspiracy to subvert state power” for organising and participating in the primaries. Two defendants, Lawrence Lau Wai-chung and Lee Yue-shun, were acquitted, marking the first acquittals under the national security law. However, the justice secretary has announced an appeal against their acquittals.
Western governments and rights groups swiftly condemned the verdict. Human Rights Watch's acting China director, Maya Wang, stated that the convictions showed “utter contempt for both democratic political processes and the rule of law.” Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, expressed “deep concern,” while the UK's minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said the verdict “will only further tarnish Hong Kong's international reputation.”
The judgment set a precedent by ruling that non-violent acts, such as primaries, could be considered subversion under the national security law. The court found that the plan to gain a majority in Hong Kong's legislative council to block budgets and force the chief executive's resignation violated the Basic Law. The 45 convicted campaigners face sentences of up to life imprisonment.
