45 activists sentenced to prison in Hong Kong national security case. The longest term is 10 years

HONG KONG — Dozens of prominent activists were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison on Tuesday. Hong Kong’s biggest national security case under a comprehensive law This decision, imposed by Beijing, crushed the once-thriving pro-democracy movement.

The defendants were tried in 2021 for their roles in a series. unofficial primary election Under the 2020 national security law. They were accused of trying to paralyze Hong Kong’s government and force the city’s leader to resign by aiming to win a legislative majority and using it to indiscriminately block government budgets.

45 convicts were given prison sentences ranging from four years, two months to 10 years. Legal scholar Benny Tai He received the longest sentence.

They either pleaded guilty or were found guilty of conspiracy to commit subversion by three government-approved judges. In the ruling, the judges said that activists’ plans to bring about changes through elections would undermine the government’s authority and create a constitutional crisis. Two of the 47 main defendants were acquitted.

Observers said the incident showed how authorities suppress dissent Major anti-government protests in 2019As well as pressures on the media and reduced public choice in elections. Officials said the sweeping changes reflected Beijing’s growing obsolete promise to protect the former British colony’s civil liberties for 50 years when it returned to China in 1997.

The governments of Beijing and Hong Kong insist the law is necessary for the city’s stability.

The demolition case involves a wide range of pro-democracy activists. Among them is former student leader Tai Joshua Wong and former MPs. Most had already been detained for more than three and a half years before sentencing. separations It upset them and their families.

While calling for lesser sentences, some activists expressed remorse and apologized, while others remained defiant.

Lawyers for Tai and some of the other defendants argued that their clients truly believed their actions were lawful at the time.

More than 200 people, including Lee Yue-shun, one of the acquitted defendants, lined up to appear in court in moderate rain and wind on Tuesday morning. Lee said he hopes the public shows they care about the progress of the case.

“Public interpretation and understanding has a far-reaching impact on the future development of our society,” he said.

One supporter, known locally as “Grandpa Wong” and who did not know the English spelling of his name, said he wanted to see the convicted activists again. He is nearly 100 years old and is afraid he won’t be able to see them when they get out of prison.

Wei Siu-lik, a friend of convicted activist Clarisse Yeung, said she arrived at 4 a.m. even though her leg was injured. “I wanted to let them know that there are a lot of people coming here for them,” he said.

Thirty-one activists have pleaded guilty and have a better chance of receiving a reduced sentence. The law allows a range of sentences for people convicted of “serious” crimes, depending on the seriousness of the crime and the defendant’s role in it, ranging from less than three years to 10 years for the least serious and up to life imprisonment.

The unofficial primary, which drew 610,000 voters in July 2020, was aimed at electing pro-democracy candidates who would later compete in official elections.

At the time, the pro-democracy camp hoped they could win a legislative majority that would allow them to press for 2019 protest demands, including greater police accountability and democratic elections for city leader.

However, the government postponed the legislative elections to be held after the primary, citing public health risks during the Covid-19 pandemic.