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Two people acquitted in landmark national security trial targeting democracy activists and politicians.
A court in Hong Kong has found 14 of 16 activists and politicians guilty of subversion in the Chinese territory’s largest-ever trial under the Beijing-imposed national security law. The judges, designated to hear cases brought under the 2020 security law, found the reasoning for their decision in a 319-page document posted online.
Two of the defendants – lawyer Laurence Lau and social worker Lee Yue-shun – were acquitted, the first to be cleared of such charges since the law was implemented nearly four years ago. The remaining defendants pleaded guilty, with the prosecution alleging they planned to cause political instability leading to a constitutional crisis.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International criticized the verdict, calling it an attack on democracy and dissent. The sentencing phase for the 47 defendants is underway, with potential life imprisonment for primary offenders and up to three years for other participants.
Defendants range from their 20s to late 60s, including prominent figures like Benny Tai, Joshua Wong, and Claudia Mo. The outcome of the trial highlights the ongoing struggle for democracy in Hong Kong.