Guilty verdicts for Hong Kong activists another massive blow to pro-democracy movement
14 pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong could face life in prison after being found guilty of subversion.
Thursday 30 May 2024 12:34, UK
This verdict is another massive blow for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, but it's not unexpected. 聽
14 out of the 16 defendants were found guilty.
This case is so significant because it's the largest and longest running trial under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law.
It also involves almost the entire leadership of Hong Kong's embattled pro-democracy movement.
47 people in total were arrested in 2021 in late night raids across the city.
Read more: Hong Kong court finds 14 pro-democracy activists guilty of subversion
Some of Hong Kong's biggest names in the political opposition, including Joshua Wong, were jailed and have already been in prison for three years.
Joshua Wong was a young student-activist turned politician and one of the key figures during Hong Kong's protests. He pleaded guilty to subversion.
Pro-democracy analysts say the guilty verdicts have wiped out the movement. Its leaders are either in jail or abroad.
In Hong Kong, the risk of speaking out has silenced China's opponents.
But some in Hong Kong hope the end of this long-running case will mean attention turns to revitalising the city's reputation as a global financial hub.
Ronny Tong, a lawyer and member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong's government, which assists the Chief Executive in policy-making, says "there's no reason for foreign investors to be concerned".
He expressed hopes Hong Kong could now return to "normal life" in which "the community becomes more stable and more harmonised".
For the convicted, the charge of subversion is as serious as it gets and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The sentencing will take place at a later date.
Those who pleaded guilty may receive a reduced sentence.
From Chinese authorities in Beijing, the message is clear - there will be no dissent without punishment.
One pro-democracy Hong Kong journalist in Australia said: "The game has been over for quite a while."
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There is a sense of resignation with this verdict, and deep despair.
This year, Hong Kong's pro-China government introduced its own security law, to essentially plug any holes left under the Beijing-imposed law that came into force after the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong.
In summarising their verdict, the judges wrote if the accused had succeeded in their plan, it would have caused a "constitutional crisis".
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Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement is all but crushed.