 Jailed activists of the Hong Kong 47 being brought to court | |
| Native name | 香港民主派初選案 |
|---|---|
| Date | 6 January 2021 – Present |
| Location | Hong Kong |
| Target | Participants of 2020 pro-democracy primaries |
| Arrests | 55 |
| Suspects | 47 |
| Charges | Conspiracy to commit subversion under the Hong Kong national security law |
| Trial | HCCC69/2022 |
The Hong Kong 47 are a group of 47 pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the Hong Kong national security law.[1]
On 6 January 2021, 55 activists, former legislators, social workers and academics were arrested by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force under the national security law over their organisation and participation in the primaries for the subsequently postponed Legislative Council election, including six organisers and 48 participants, of which two were arrested in jail, making it the largest crackdown under the national security law since its passage on 30 June 2020. Authorities also raided 72 sites including the home of jailed activist Joshua Wong, the offices of news outlets Apple Daily, Stand News and InMedia HK and polling institute Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI), and froze more than $200,000 in funds related to the primaries.[2] The arrests reduced the pro-democracy camp, including its moderate wing, considerably, and targeted several prominent figures.[3]
On 28 February, 47 opposition figures among those arrested in January were officially charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the national security law. Their appearance in court on 1 March saw hundreds of protesters assembling outside the building, a rare act of defiance before the background of restrictions due to the national security law and the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
Several defence lawyers expressed their objections in court to the slow prosecutions, which contrasted with speedily pressed charges.[4] Analysts considered the slow charges, which extended to other national security cases, to be a deliberate strategy designed to stoke fear.[5] The case was adjourned several times; at the adjournment on 4 March 2022, the next hearing date was set as 28 April, due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[6] at which date the defendants were told to appear again on 1 to 2 June; a higher court judge had called on the handling lower court a few days earlier to deliver a speedy trial.[7] The defendants were subjected at times to solitary confinement.[1]
As of 8 March 2022, only 13 of 47 defendants had been granted bail, a reflection of the stringent requirements for bail under the national security law.[8] By early July 2021, many of the defendants had announced their retirement from politics.[9] The trial lasted from 6 February to 4 December 2023.[10][11]
- ^ a b Jordan, Primrose; Chan, Ho-him (23 June 2022). "She was loved for standing up to China. She may die in jail". Financial Times. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ Wang, Vivian; Ramzy, Austin; May, Tiffany (5 January 2021). "Hong Kong Police Arrest Dozens of Pro-Democracy Leaders". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ Zhou, Viola (6 January 2021). "Hong Kong Has Arrested Almost Everyone in the Political Opposition". Vice. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ a b Ramzy, Austin (1 March 2021). "Hundreds in rare Hong Kong protest as opposition figures are charged". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ Davidson, Helen (30 June 2021). "'They can't speak freely': Hong Kong a year after the national security law". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ Ho, Kelly (3 March 2022). "Hong Kong democrats' subversion case adjourned to late April, courts may close amid Covid-19". Hong Kong Free Press. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ Ho, Kelly (28 April 2022). "47 democrats' subversion case adjourned to June". Hong Kong Free Press. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ Cheng, Selina (3 November 2021). "Judge reveals reasoning for Hong Kong democrats' bail decisions". Hong Kong Free Press. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ Pang, Jessie (8 July 2021). "Court case of 47 Hong Kong democracy activists to resume on Sept 23". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ "Explainer: Hong Kong's national security crackdown – month 32". Hong Kong Free Press. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ Lee, James (4 December 2023). "Hong Kong 47: Landmark national security trial comes to a close, with 'no guarantees' of when verdict is expected". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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