Tue Nov 19 04:15:43 UTC 2024: **Hong Kong Court Hands Down Lengthy Sentences in Major National Security Case**

HONG KONG, Nov 19, 2024 – A Hong Kong court sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to prison terms ranging from four years and two months to 10 years on Tuesday, concluding the city’s largest national security case to date. The defendants were convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion under the 2020 national security law imposed by Beijing, stemming from their involvement in an unofficial primary election held in July 2020.

The primary, which attracted over 610,000 voters, aimed to select pro-democracy candidates for the subsequent legislative election. Prosecutors argued the activists intended to win a legislative majority, thereby paralyzing the Hong Kong government and forcing the city’s leader to resign. While the legislative election was subsequently postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the court deemed the activists’ actions a serious attempt to undermine the government’s authority.

Prominent figures among the convicted include legal scholar Benny Tai, who received the longest sentence of 10 years, and former student leader Joshua Wong. Thirty-one defendants pleaded guilty, potentially leading to reduced sentences. Two defendants were acquitted.

The judgment highlighted the extensive resources dedicated to organizing the primary and rejected claims that the plan was unrealistic. Judges stated that the activists’ actions, even if unsuccessful, constituted a serious attempt at subversion. While some defendants’ sentences were reduced due to claims of unawareness regarding the illegality of their actions, Tai and Alvin Yeung, both lawyers, received harsher penalties due to their active roles.

The sentencing has been met with widespread condemnation from observers who view it as a further suppression of dissent in Hong Kong, highlighting the erosion of civil liberties promised by Beijing upon the handover of Hong Kong in 1997. The court saw significant public attendance, with supporters expressing their concerns and solidarity with the convicted activists. The government maintains that the national security law is essential for maintaining stability in the city.

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