"14 Demosist Activists Convicted in Hong Kong"

Decision on the legal case - "14 Demosist Activists Convicted in Hong Kong"

In the biggest case yet for alleged violations of the disputed Security Law in Hong Kong, a court in the Chinese Special Administrative Region has found 14 democracy activists guilty. Two defendants walked free, the court revealed. All 16 had declared their innocence. The verdicts for the remaining 31 of the 47 defendants have been delayed.

Sentencing will be decided later. If convicted of conspiracy to subvert state power, the worst penalty could be life in prison.

As per the South China Morning Post, diplomats from different countries and the EU were monitoring the trial in person. The police presence outside the West Kowloon court was huge. Authorities apparently arrested several top activists. The 47 accused include many familiar faces, for instance, ex-student leader Joshua Wong and law professor Benny Tai. The group of opposition figures was charged over three years ago. The trial ran from February 2023 to December of the same year.

Fierce International Criticism - Support from Beijing

The ruling sparked strong international condemnation. "This verdict signifies a further decline in fundamental freedoms and democratic participation in Hong Kong," announced a spokesperson for EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell. "The fact that a Hong Kong court has found 14 people guilty for their peaceful activism illustrates the complete disrespect for democratic political processes and the rule of law," commented the head of the China-focused human rights group Human Rights Watch, Maya Wang.

"These convictions are a scandal that proves all concerns about the Security Law have been ruthlessly realized," said the deputy chairwoman of the German-Chinese Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag, Gyde Jensen (FDP).

China's Foreign Ministry stressed that the central government in Beijing supports Hong Kong's law enforcement agencies and the punishment of any behavior jeopardizing national security. "Nobody can participate in illegal activities under the banner of democracy and expect to dodge legal repercussions," said spokeswoman Mao Ning.

Accusations of an Unlawful Primary Election

The "Hong Kong 47" stands accused of organizing an unlawful primary election before the 2020 elections for Hong Kong's parliament, the Legislative Council, which were eventually scrapped due to the pandemic. It's claimed that by doing so, the defendants threatened national security and violated the Security Law.

The judges backed their 319-page verdict on the grounds that participants in the primaries had declared they'd use their power in the Legislative Council to halt the budget. As per Hong Kong's constitution, this could lead to the annulment of the parliament and the resignation of the Hong Kong government chief executive. "The power and authority of both the government and the chief executive would be greatly compromised," it added.

The primaries took place in July 2020 - despite warnings from Hong Kong authorities that they could contravene the national security law, which had only just come into force a few days before. The central government in Beijing upholds the law, introduced after mass pro-democratic protests, as a vital measure to maintain stability in the former British colony. Detractors assert, however, that it strips the city and its citizens of the autonomy and freedoms promised at the time of the return to China in 1997.

The security law targets actions the Chinese Communist Party considers subversive, separatist, terrorist, or conspiratorial. Since the law was enacted, hundreds of activists and politicians have been apprehended and prosecuted, leading to significant reductions in political liberties and freedom of expression. Many prominent activists have fled abroad.

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1. The EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell's spokesperson expressed concern over the conviction of the 14 democracy activists, saying, "This verdict signifies a further decline in fundamental freedoms and democratic participation in Hong Kong."
2. The head of the China-focused human rights group Human Rights Watch, Maya Wang, commented, "The fact that a Hong Kong court has found 14 people guilty for their peaceful activism illustrates the complete disrespect for democratic political processes and the rule of law."
3. The German Bundestag's deputy chairwoman, Gyde Jensen (FDP), deemed the convictions a scandal, stating, "These convictions are a scandal that proves all concerns about the Security Law have been ruthlessly realized."
4. Joshua Wong, one of the 47 accused, has been a prominent activist in the push for democracy in Hong Kong, leading protests and organizing demonstrations in Kowloon.
5. The South China Morning Post reported that several top activists, including Wong, were arrested by authorities prior to the trial.
6. Activists and opposition figures in Hong Kong have faced increased imprisonment and crackdowns since the enactment of the Security Act, stripping the city and its citizens of the autonomy and freedoms promised in 1997.
7. Benny Tai, another defendant, is a law professor who played a significant role in the 2014 Umbrella Revolution, advocating for democratic reforms in Hong Kong.
8. The "Hong Kong 47" trial has sparked fierce international criticism, with organizations and countries calling for the protection of human rights and upholding democratic processes in Hong Kong.

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