Political prisoner trial developments in Hong Kong this week (11 December - 15 December)
Trial of the 47 democrats
The long-anticipated trial of the 47 democrats opened on Monday 6 February 2023. The trial concerns the 47 democrats who organised or participated in “unofficial” primaries in July 2020. As a result of these primaries, 55 people were arrested in January 2021, in the largest crackdown since the National Security Law was passed.
Of these, 47 have been accused of “conspiracy to commit subversion” and are now facing trial. The majority of defendants have been in detention for 2 years, as only 13 have been granted bail. 31 of the defendants have pleaded guilty. This is one of the most significant trials since the National Security Law (NSL) was passed.
The trial of the 47 democrats came to a close on 4 December 2023, after ten months of a case that was initially expected to last four months. The judge said there are “no guarantees” as to when the verdict will be released.
Other Developments
Development 1: Sebastien Lai meets British Foreign Secretary and speaks in British Parliament ahead of Jimmy Lai’s trial set to begin on Monday
Jimmy Lai’s national security trial is expected to start on Monday, 18 December 2023, and last for 80 days. Ahead of the trial, Jimmy Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, has met with government officials from the UK, EU, US and Canada to press them to publicly call for his father’s immediate and unconditional release.
Before meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron last week, Sebastien Lai spoke on a panel in the British Parliament to raise his father’s case alongside Hong Kong Watch’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Benedict Rogers and Hong Kong Watch Patron Lord Alton of Liverpool, as well as Caoilfhionn Gallagher, KC, head of Jimmy Lai’s international legal team. Mr Rogers said Jimmy Lai’s case is “emblematic” of the dismantling of Hong Kong’s fundamental freedoms and cited the increasing threats to freedom of religion or belief in the city, detailed in Hong Kong Watch’s new report that includes devout Catholic Jimmy Lai, Sell Out My Soul: The Impending Threats to Freedom of Religion or Belief in Hong Kong.
Jimmy Lai is a British citizen who founded the now-defunct newspaper Apple Daily, the largest pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong. After Beijing imposed the National Security Law in June 2020, Mr Lai was issued charges including organising and inciting others to participate in an unauthorised candlelight vigil and participation in peaceful protests. Mr Lai was detained on 31 December 2020 and has been behind bars for over 1,000 days.
Development 2: Five exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy activists issued arrest warrants with HK$1 million (£101,118) bounties
The Hong Kong national security police issued five more arrest warrants with HK$1 million (£101,118) bounties for five exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy activists who now live in the US and UK: Joey Siu, who is a US citizen and previously worked as a Policy Advisor at Hong Kong Watch; Frances Hui, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation; Simon Cheng, Founder of Hongkongers in Britain; and Johnny Fok and Tony Choi, online radio hosts for Tuesdayroad Media.
British Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron issued a statement in response, stating, “We will not tolerate any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK. This is a threat to our democracy and fundamental human rights. We call on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law and end its persecution of political activists.”
The US State Department also released a statement, declaring, “We strongly condemn the egregious actions taken by Hong Kong authorities in announcing national security law changes and a new bounty list targeting democracy advocates overseas […] We deplore any attempt to apply the Beijing-imposed national security law extraterritorially and reiterate that Hong Kong authorities have no jurisdiction within United States borders, where the advocates for democracy and freedom will continue to enjoy their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights.”
The five arrest warrants follow the arrest warrants and bounties issued for eight exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy activists in July 2023: Ted Hui, Dennis Kwok, Nathan Law, Anna Kwok, Elmer Yuen, Mung Siu-Tat, Finn Lau and Kevin Yam.
Hong Kong Watch condemned these arrest warrants as well as the many instances of the Hong Kong government targeting their family and colleagues in Hong Kong.
Development 3: Four individuals arrested for allegedly providing financial assistance to two wanted overseas Hong Kong pro-democracy activists
The Hong Kong national security police arrested two men and two women, aged between 29 and 68, for allegedly providing financial assistance for activities “endangering national security” to Nathan Law and Ted Hui, two wanted overseas Hong Kong pro-democracy activists who were issued arrest warrants and bounties in July 2023.
The arrest of these four individuals were the first arrests on financial assistance grounds under the National Security Law, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. These arrests may have serious implications for other family members and colleagues of the 13 total overseas Hong Kong activists who have arrest warrants and bounties for “endangering national security.”
Hong Kong Watch previously condemned the arrest warrants and bounties placed on Nathan Law and Ted Hui as well as the Hong Kong government’s intimidation of their families in Hong Kong.
香港政治犯審訊每週簡報（2023年12月11日至15日）
47人案進展
47名民主派人士涉於2020年7月組織及參與立法會初選，被控《國安法》下的「串謀顛覆國家政權」罪。本案於2023年2月6日開審，是自《國安法》通過以來最重大的案件之一。
47名被告中只有13人獲准保釋，其餘大多數已還押兩年。當中31人認罪，16人不認罪。
47人案於2023年12月4日完成審訊，審期原預計為四個月，最終卻歷時十個月。法官表示本案暫訂三至四個月後裁決，惟未能保證。
其他事件
事件1：黎崇恩在黎智英國安案開審前會見英國外相等多國政府官員
事件2：國安處懸紅通緝五名海外香港社運人士 英美政府發聲明批評港府行徑
事件3：國安處另拘捕四人 涉向被通緝海外港人羅冠聰、許智峯課金