In the latest development, the Hong Kong Court will sentence 45 democratic campaigners to heavy jail terms. In May, 14 of these 47 Democrats were found guilty of committing a conspiracy for subversion; only two were free from these criminal charges. Moreover, according to Reuters, 31 of them have pleaded guilty in the hope of reducing their sentence.
The trial has attracted the attention of major democracies like the USA, which claim it to be politically motivated and have demanded the release of defendants. In response, Hong Kong’s legal authorities have mentioned that the legal process has been fair and that Western nations’ claims are baseless and malicious.
The End Of Saga
This coming Tuesday, the government-hand-picked jury of three national security judges will conclude this legal saga that began at the beginning of 2021. It is believed the jail terms imposed on the convicts may range from several years to potential life imprisonment. The conspiracy charges for committing subversion were filed following unofficial primary elections held in July 2020, which sought to enhance the Democrats’ prospects of winning a majority in the upcoming Legislative Council election.
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Impact Of the Trial
The convictions have suppressed several influential and steadfast pro-democracy voices, as revealed through an analysis of social media posts and conversations with lawyers and families of some defendants.
Before the trial, pro-democracy figures operated within the framework established when Hong Kong transitioned from British to Chinese governance in 1997 under the “one country, two systems” principle, which granted the city freedoms unavailable in mainland China.
However, critics argue that this model was undermined by China’s introduction of a national security law in July 2020, following widespread pro-democracy protests in the city the previous year.
