Legal scholar Benny Tai was among those sentenced on Nov. 19.Legal scholar Benny Tai was among those sentenced on Nov. 19.
Dozens of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy campaigners have been jailed after a landmark trial that saw them convicted of subversion under Beijing’s national security law (NSL) for their participation in a 2020 primary election that was deemed illegitimate by the government.
Despite international condemnation following its verdicts against the pro-democracy campaigners in May 2023, Hong Kong’s NSL-bound judicial system has proceeded with enforcing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s new framework for the city.
A total of 47 pro-democracy advocates were initially charged with “conspiracy to subvert state power” for their roles in the election primary, which threatened to paralyze the government with a constitutional crisis had they been elected.
After a 118 day trial, 14 of the democrats who pleaded not guilty were found guilty, including Australian citizen Gordon Ng and Owen Chow, while two were acquitted. The Hong Kong government has said it will be appealing the acquittals.
The other 31 pleaded guilty, including student activist Joshua Wong and legal scholar Benny Tai.
Tai, who was labeled as an “organizer” of 47 pro-democracy advocates who participated in the July 2020 democratic primary, was among the 45 sentenced by Hong Kong’s High Court on Tuesday. He was given a 10-year sentence for “conspiring to commit subversion,” as defined under the NSL. His sentence was the harshest of the group.
The movement maintains it did not have a leader but was formed by Hong Kong leaders who share a yearning for political freedom in their city.
Owen Chow, a 27-year-old nursing student, was sentenced to seven years and nine months in prison, the second-longest penalty imposed among the convicted individuals.
Gordon Ng, a 46-year-old dual Australian and Hong Kong national, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for his role in organizing and participating in the election primary.
Former lawmaker Au Nok-hin and former journalist Gwyneth Ho were also sentenced to seven years in prison for their roles in the election primary.
