Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal has rejected appeals filed by 12 pro-democracy activists and upheld their prison sentences in a high-profile national security case. The ruling stems from the widely known “Hong Kong 47” case, in which leading opposition figures were arrested in early 2021. Authorities charged them with conspiracy to commit subversion under a sweeping national security law imposed in 2020. Critics argue the case reflects a broader crackdown on political dissent in the city.
Following lengthy legal proceedings, most of the 47 defendants were sentenced in late 2024 to prison terms ranging from four to ten years, while two were acquitted. The appeal court’s judgment stated that the group had engaged in a coordinated plan aimed at undermining Hong Kong’s constitutional order. Judges wrote that the strategy, allegedly led by legal scholar Benny Tai, sought to use legislative mechanisms as a “constitutional mass destruction weapon.” The court concluded that the actions went beyond normal political opposition.
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The case centered on an unofficial primary election organized in mid-2020 by pro-democracy figures to select candidates for the Legislative Council election. Prosecutors argued that the defendants planned to win a majority and then veto the government’s annual budget indiscriminately. According to the prosecution, such actions were intended to paralyze governance and force the city’s leader to resign. Judges ruled that a blanket veto strategy would constitute an abuse of legislative power.
Among those who lost their appeals were former lawmakers Helena Wong, Lam Cheuk-ting, Raymond Chan, and Leung Kwok-hung, along with activists and former district councillors including Gwyneth Ho and Gordon Ng. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed concern after Australian citizen Gordon Ng’s appeal failed. She stated that Australia had raised strong objections regarding the broad application of national security legislation. After the verdict, defendants remained composed and waved to supporters in court.
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Meanwhile, the court dismissed a separate appeal by the Department of Justice seeking to overturn the acquittal of barrister Lawrence Lau, affirming that he had not directly advocated vetoing the budget. Hong Kong and Beijing authorities insist the trial was fair and argue that the national security law restored stability after mass protests in 2019. However, rights groups continue to call for the unconditional release of those jailed, describing the convictions as a serious setback for political freedoms.