Amnesty International

Hong Kong: Rejected appeals in HK 47 case a missed opportunity to start restoring justice

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong 47: court dismisses appeals by 12 activists in national security trial

Toronto Star

A Hong Kong court dismisses appeals of activists in a key national security case

Nikkei Asia

Hong Kong court rejects appeals by 12 jailed 'HK47' activists

Al Jazeera

Hong Kong court rejects appeal in landmark subversion case

Reuters

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Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

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Metaculus

When will Hong Kong stop being a Special Administrative Region of China?

Hong Kong's Court of Appeal dismissed appeals by 12 pro-democracy activists on Monday, upholding <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2024/hong-kong-sentenced-over-prodemocracy-protests">their convictions and sentences in the city's largest national security trial</a>. The court also rejected the government's appeal against the acquittal of barrister Lawrence Lau.

Hong Kong's Court of Appeal dismissed appeals by 12 pro-democracy activists on Monday, upholding their convictions and sentences in the city's largest national security trial. The court also rejected the government's appeal against the acquittal of barrister Lawrence Lau.

The case involved 47 opposition figures — widely known as the "Hong Kong 47" or "HK47" — arrested in 2021 and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion for organizing an unofficial primary election in July 2020. In 2024, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2024/hong-kong-jails-democracy-activists-in-landmark-security-case">45 defendants were sentenced to prison terms</a> ranging from 4 to 10 years.

The case involved 47 opposition figures — widely known as the "Hong Kong 47" or "HK47" — arrested in 2021 and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion for organizing an unofficial primary election in July 2020. In 2024, 45 defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 4 to 10 years.

The activists aimed to secure a legislative majority to threaten vetoing the government budget unless demands, such as universal suffrage, were met. Prosecutors argued this plan would paralyze Hong Kong's government and force the city's leader to resign.

The activists aimed to secure a legislative majority to threaten vetoing the government budget unless demands, such as universal suffrage, were met. Prosecutors argued this plan would paralyze Hong Kong's government and force the city's leader to resign.

Appellate judges described the scheme as a "constitutional mass destruction weapon" conceived by legal scholar Benny Tai to topple Hong Kong's constitutional order. The court ruled that indiscriminately vetoing the budget was "clearly an abuse of the power" of legislators.

Appellate judges described the scheme as a "constitutional mass destruction weapon" conceived by legal scholar Benny Tai to topple Hong Kong's constitutional order. The court ruled that indiscriminately vetoing the budget was "clearly an abuse of the power" of legislators.

Those who lost their appeals included former lawmakers Helena Wong, Lam Cheuk-ting, Raymond Chan and Leung Kwok-hung, as well as former journalist Gwyneth Ho and activists Owen Chow and Gordon Ng.

Those who lost their appeals included former lawmakers Helena Wong, Lam Cheuk-ting, Raymond Chan and Leung Kwok-hung, as well as former journalist Gwyneth Ho and activists Owen Chow and Gordon Ng.

Eighteen defendants who did not contest their convictions have been released after completing their sentences as of last month. Former district councillor Andrew Chiu became the first national security offender to secure early discharge when he left prison in October.

Eighteen defendants who did not contest their convictions have been released after completing their sentences as of last month. Former district councillor Andrew Chiu became the first national security offender to secure early discharge when he left prison in October.

Amnesty International #

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Toronto Star #

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Al Jazeera #3

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Hong Kong Free Press HKFP #

Metaculus #

Hong Kong's Court of Appeal dismissed appeals by 12 pro-democracy activists on Monday, upholding their convictions and sentences in the city's largest national security trial. The court also rejected the government's appeal against the acquittal of barrister Lawrence Lau.

The case involved 47 opposition figures arrested in 2021 and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion for organizing an unofficial primary election in July 2020. Forty-five defendants were sentenced in 2024 to prison terms ranging from four years to 10 years.

The case involved 47 opposition figures arrested in 2021 and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion for organizing an unofficial primary election in July 2020. Forty-five defendants were sentenced in 2024 to prison terms ranging from four years to 10 years.

The activists aimed to secure a legislative majority to threaten vetoing the government budget unless demands like universal suffrage were met. Prosecutors argued this plan would paralyze Hong Kong's government and force the city's leader to resign.

The activists aimed to secure a legislative majority to threaten vetoing the government budget unless demands like universal suffrage were met. Prosecutors argued this plan would paralyze Hong Kong's government and force the city's leader to resign.

Those who lost their appeals included former lawmakers Helena Wong, Lam Cheuk-ting, Raymond Chan and Leung Kwok-hung, as well as former journalist Gwyneth Ho and activists Owen Chow and Gordon Ng. Australia expressed concern that its citizen Gordon Ng had lost his appeal.

Those who lost their appeals included former lawmakers Helena Wong, Lam Cheuk-ting, Raymond Chan and Leung Kwok-hung, as well as former journalist Gwyneth Ho and activists Owen Chow and Gordon Ng. Australia expressed concern that its citizen Gordon Ng had lost his appeal.

The Court of Appeal's decision to uphold convictions while also dismissing the prosecution's appeal against an acquittal proves Hong Kong's judiciary operates with true independence and fairness. This meticulous ruling severely punishes genuine threats to national security while firmly protecting defendants' legal rights, demonstrating that the rule of law shines brighter than ever under "one country, two systems."

The Court of Appeal's decision to uphold convictions while also dismissing the prosecution's appeal against an acquittal proves Hong Kong's judiciary operates with true independence and fairness. This meticulous ruling severely punishes genuine threats to national security while firmly protecting defendants' legal rights, demonstrating that the rule of law shines brighter than ever under "one country, two systems."

Global Times

Global Times #

Hong Kongs court dismisses appeals by 12 defendants in national security trial; ruling solidifies cornerstone of the rule of law: experts

The court's rejection of these appeals exposes the politically motivated persecution of peaceful opposition in Hong Kong, where organizing democratic primaries now results in lengthy prison sentences. These defendants committed no internationally recognized crime but face punishment simply for exercising fundamental rights to free expression and political participation.

The court's rejection of these appeals exposes the politically motivated persecution of peaceful opposition in Hong Kong, where organizing democratic primaries now results in lengthy prison sentences. These defendants committed no internationally recognized crime but face punishment simply for exercising fundamental rights to free expression and political participation.

China-Taiwan Relations

The US-China Conflict

Hong Kong Court Upholds Convictions of 12 Activists

China

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The court's decision to uphold convictions and also dismiss the prosecution's appeal against an acquittal proves Hong Kong's judiciary operates with true independence and fairness. This meticulous ruling severely punishes genuine threats to national security while firmly protecting defendants' legal rights, demonstrating that the rule of law shines brighter than ever under "one country, two systems."

The court's decision to uphold convictions and also dismiss the prosecution's appeal against an acquittal proves Hong Kong's judiciary operates with true independence and fairness. This meticulous ruling severely punishes genuine threats to national security while firmly protecting defendants' legal rights, demonstrating that the rule of law shines brighter than ever under "one country, two systems."

HK Labour Rights Monitor

There's a 50% chance that Hong Kong will stop being a Special Administrative Region of China by February 2047, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 50% chance that Hong Kong will stop being a Special Administrative Region of China by February 2047, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Hong Kong Court Upholds Convictions of 12 'HK47' Activists

Hong Kong Court Upholds Convictions of 12 'HK47' Activists

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Hong Kong Court Upholds Convictions of 12 'HK47' Activists

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