Several Hong Kong democracy activists have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to ten years for conspiracy to commit subversion. The charges stemmed from their involvement in organizing an unofficial primary election in 2020, which was held in the wake of massive protests against a proposed extradition bill a year earlier.
The longest sentence, ten years, was given to Benny Tai, a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s democracy movement. Tai was accused of being behind the plan to organize elections for selecting candidates, a move that Hong Kong officials claimed was part of an effort to undermine the government. Despite pleading guilty, Tai’s defense argued that he believed the elections were legal under Hong Kong’s Basic Law.
Joshua Wong, another well-known activist, was sentenced to more than four years. Wong had become a leading voice in the 2019 protests against the extradition bill, which sparked widespread demonstrations across the city. His activism began at age 15 when he led a major rally opposing changes to the school curriculum.
The 2019 protests, initially ignited by the extradition bill, grew into a broader movement demanding greater political freedoms and the right to elect leaders. While the bill was eventually withdrawn, the protests marked a significant shift in Hong Kong’s political landscape. In response, Beijing labeled the protests “riots” and implemented a stringent national security law to prevent further unrest.
The trial of these activists has been widely condemned as politically motivated, with the US and other international observers expressing concern over Hong Kong’s diminishing freedoms. Family members and supporters of the accused waited outside the West Kowloon Magistrates Court as the verdict was announced.
In a separate development, British media mogul Jimmy Lai, who faces charges related to the 2019 protests, is scheduled to testify on Wednesday. Lai has been charged with fraud, sedition, and collusion with foreign forces. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently raised concerns about Lai’s health in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G20 summit in Brazil.
