Hong Kong
CNN
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There were also veteran politicians and veteran protest leaders. Others were academics, union members and medical workers.They were hailed from different generations and had different political views, but were united by what they said It was a shared commitment to Hong Kong’s democratic future.
The “Hong Kong 47,” now known as a group of pro-democracy activists in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory, will begin appearing in court on Monday, facing charges that could get them sentenced to life in prison.
Sixteen of the defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges placed against them and are expected to stand first.
their criminal charges? Organize and participate in informal primaries in what prosecutors called “a massive and well-organized plot to overthrow the Hong Kong government.”
This is Hong Kong’s largest national security law trial since Beijing imposed it of Cleaned up the city’s laws after massive anti-government protests in 2019. The law criminalizes the vaguely defined acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign powers, all of which are punishable by life imprisonment.
The landmark trial — the first involving a subversion charge — is expected to last weeks, but in a city that analysts say is rapidly losing political freedom and autonomy, its repercussions could take years or years. It can last decades.
University of Hong Kong professor emeritus John Burns said the Democrats’ trial was a “test of will” of Beijing’s ability to completely wipe out organized opposition in Hong Kong.
Barnes said arresting and prosecuting Democrats was intended to intimidate and eliminate dissidents by deporting them from Hong Kong or imprisoning them.
“It’s a process of getting rid of them. By closing political parties and closing trade unions, they’re closing the base of support for an organized opposition,” Burns said.
The Hong Kong government has repeatedly denied such accusations. On the contrary, they argue that the law put an end to the chaos and restored stability to the city.
“Hong Kong prides itself on the rule of law. Law enforcement agencies have a duty to take action against illegal acts, regardless of the political background of the suspect. We are strictly following the relevant laws and regulations,” the government said in a statement in response to the criticism.
Here’s what you need to know about this case:
Forty-seven pro-democracy advocates have been charged with “conspiracy to subvert the state” under the National Security Act over their role in the July 2020 informal primary.
Voting was held prior to legislative elections to determine the most suitable candidate to challenge the pro-Beijing candidate.
Such contests are held in democracies around the world and involve political parties who choose the strongest candidates for elections. Hong Kong democrats used to hold such votes to align with the organization and discipline of the rival pro-Beijing camp and to avoid splitting the opposition.
But the authorities Said The major vote was a “vicious conspiracy” intended to “paralyze the government and undermine state power” by gaining a majority of seats and using the mandate to block legislation. .
The government election commission also responded “So-called” primaries were “not part of the electoral process for Legislative Council elections or other public elections.”
In January 2021, 47 Democrats were arrested en masse. Since then, many have been remanded or sent to prison for other protest-related crimes, and 15 were released on bail under certain conditions.
Under the common law system, it is extremely rare for a defendant to be denied bail in Hong Kong. But the National Security Act stipulates that a defendant cannot be released on bail unless the court is satisfied that the defendant “will not continue to endanger national security.”
A Justice Department spokesperson told CNN that bail applications for crimes “endangering national security” were “considered by the courts on the basis of admissible evidence, applicable law, and the merits of the case, and treated fairly.” and was fairly adjudicated,” he said.
Cases are tried without a jury, deviating from common law traditions.
Defendants include a range of political activists, from moderate democrats to radical provincialists, a movement advocating Hong Kong’s independence from mainland China.
Among the 16 people who have pleaded not guilty is former journalist Gwyneth Ho, 32, of the now-defunct Stand News, which was closed after a 2021 police raid. indicted for sedition.
Ho live-streamed the moment when the perpetrator indiscriminately beat people at a train station in July 2019. Many of them were people returning from the pro-democracy movement. Footage of Ho’s case made international headlines and led to the absence of police. Ho was wounded in the attack. She later left journalism to run for the 2020 Legislative Council elections.
![Gwyneth Ho was spotted working from her Hong Kong office on August 4, 2020.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230125034417-01-gwyneth-ho-080420.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_270,w_480,c_fill)
66-year-old Leung Kwok-hung, nicknamed “Long Hair” for his distinctive locks, is a former member of parliament and retired civil servant. He has been at the forefront of Hong Kong politics for over 20 years and is an outspoken China critic. He is known for his political protests – both on the streets and within the city’s legislature. In 2017 he He was disqualified from the legislature for refusing to take an oath of allegiance to China.
![Activist Leung Kwok-hung has a placard that reads:](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230125034419-01-leung-kwok-hung-020921-restricted.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_270,w_480,c_fill)
Ram Chuk Tin, 45, regularly participates in street protests, sometimes leading to clashes with police. He was often seen negotiating with police to stop using tear gas.
He was sentenced to four months in prison for disclosing personal information about individuals in a police investigation into the Yuen Long mob attack in January 2020.
![Former pro-democracy lawmaker Lam Chuk Tin stands outside the Eastern Magistrate's Court on December 28, 2020.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230125034421-01-lam-cheuk-ting-122820-restricted.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_270,w_480,c_fill)
Meanwhile, some prominent activists have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. They are in pretrial detention or are serving time on other protest-related charges.
These include well-known activist Joshua Wong, 26. Labeled an “extremist” by Chinese state media, Benny Tai, 54, is a former law professor and co-founder of the 2014 “Occupy Central” movement. Claudia Moe, 66, a former journalist turned member of parliament, also pleaded guilty.