Fourteen of ‘Hong Kong 47’ found guilty for participating in pro-democracy primary elections

Fourteen pro-democracy legislators and aspiring legislators were today found guilty of alleged subversion under the Hong Kong National Security Law for organising and participating in “unofficial” primary elections for the Hong Kong Legislative Council in July 2020. 

This verdict comes more than three years after a total of 47 democrats, known as the ‘Hong Kong 47’, were arrested for conspiracy to commit subversion in January 2021. The sentencing for those found guilty is expected at a later date, with imprisonment for this offence ranging from three years to life. 

The 118-day trial of the Hong Kong 47 began on 6 February 2023, and ended on 4 December 2023. During the hearing, 31 defendants pleaded guilty and four became prosecution witnesses. The defendants were accused of conspiring to veto government bills and “cripple government operations by leveraging legislative powers”. Like all national security cases to date, the trial was heard without a jury. Many diplomats from the US, EU, and other countries were in attendance.

This trial is the largest and one of the most significant national security trials since the National Security Law was imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in 2020. This verdict, as well as the expected sentencing of this case, will set a precedent for cases involving legislators, activists, trade unionists and journalists who have been found guilty for simply doing their jobs and partaking in activities that are in line with their internationally-guaranteed rights and freedoms.

Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Watch, said:

“This landmark verdict signals to the international community that Hong Kong, where it is becoming the norm to criminalise brave individuals who stand for democracy, is no longer a safe place for international business. This trial mirrors the case of Jimmy Lai and other political prisoners, where bogus evidence is presented to fit the mould of alleged safeguarding national security legislation that only safeguards the twisted interests of the Hong Kong authorities. 

Despite ongoing elections in the UK and EU, governments that uphold democratic values should swiftly issue statements and take action in response. Specifically, the UK government should re-evaluate the special privileges of Hong Kong in international fora, sanction the responsible Hong Kong officials, and expand the British National (Overseas) visa scheme for Hong Kongers.”

47人案16名不認罪被告裁決 14人罪成 香港監察促民主政府採取行動回應

47名民主派人士涉於2020年7月組織及參與香港立法會初選，被控《國安法》下的「串謀顛覆國家政權」罪，案件今日裁決。16名不認罪被告中，14人被裁定罪成，劉偉聰、李予信則被判無罪。

香港監察共同創辦人兼行政總監羅傑斯（Benedict Rogers）表示：

「這宗具標誌意義的裁決向國際社會表明，香港不再是安全的國際營商之都，向捍衛民主的勇敢香港人加諸罪名在當地已成常態。這場審訊與黎智英及其他政治犯的案件如出一轍，香港當局提出不實證據，用以符合所宣稱維護國家安全法律的模式，而有關法律只維護當局扭曲的利益。

雖然英國和歐盟正值選舉期，但捍衛民主價值的政府應迅速發表聲明，並採取行動回應。具體而言，英國政府應重新評估香港在國際論壇上的特權；制裁相關香港官員；並擴大為香港人而設的英國國民（海外）簽證計劃。」