Hong Kong jails 45 activists in 'outrageous' crackdown

Hong Kong’s High Court has sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to jail terms of up to 10 years in a landmark national security trial seen as a stark demonstration of a China-led crackdown on dissent.

- ALEXANDER BUTLER NAMITA SINGH

A total of 47 pro-democracy activists were arrested and charged in 2021 with conspiracy to commit subversion under a Beijingimposed national security law, which carries sentences of up to life in prison. The charges stemmed from an unofficial primary election in July 2020, where the activists aimed to pick the best candidates for an upcoming legislative election.

The activists, commonly known as “Hong Kong 47”, were accused of plotting to paralyse the government by engaging in potentially disruptive acts. Benny Tai, a legal scholar who was regarded as a key figure in the plan, received the longest sentence of 10 years.

After a 118-day trial, 14 of the democrats were found guilty in May, including Australian citizen Gordon Ng and activists Owen Chow and Gwyneth Ho, while two were acquitted.

The other 31 pleaded guilty and all 45 were given sentences ranging from four to 10 years yesterday, including prominent activist Joshua Wong, who was handed a term of four years and two months.

Exiled activist Nathan Law, one of a number of pro-democracy activists who has had a HK$1m (£101,400) bounty placed on his head by Hong Kong police, told The Independent: “The sentencing is outrageous... The activists were merely doing things every party in democratic countries do, which was organising to run for a legislative election.

“Joshua and I are good friends and we have worked together for many years. He is a brave person and will endure... For activist overseas, especially those who are wanted, it means there is still a long way to go before they can go home,” he added.