The Facts
Seven prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters won a partial victory in court Monday after a judge quashed part of their convictions related to their roles in the large pro-democracy protests of 2019.
In 2021, media tycoon and founder of now-defunct Apple Daily, Jimmy Lai, unionist Lee Cheuk-yan, prominent leftist Leung Kwok-hung, lawyer Albert Ho, former lawmaker Cyd Ho, and Civic Party and Democratic Party founders Margaret Ng and Martin Lee were arrested for organizing and taking part in an unauthorized assembly.
The Spin
Narrative A
This ruling shows that changes are occurring in Hong Kong. Just in the past few weeks, courts have ruled against the Hong Kong government's attempts to unfairly charge protesters and ban songs like “Glory to Hong Kong.” The 2019 protests and the latest string of court decisions have only added inspiration to the fight for democracy.
Narrative B
While some may laud this decision as a victory, the sad truth is that nothing has changed. Peaceful pro-democracy protesters still have to serve in jail for simply participating in an “unlawful assembly,” and Macrae’s ruling only further legitimizes the government’s authority to dictate whether protests are legal or not and jail dissenters.
