Dozens of activists get 4 to 10 years in Hong Kong's largest national security prison

Dozens of prominent activists were sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday in Hong Kong's biggest national security trial under Beijing's shock law that has crushed the once-thriving pro-democracy movement.

The defendants were prosecuted in 2021 for their role in the illegal primary election under the 2020 national security law. They were accused of trying to paralyze the Hong Kong government and force the city's leader to resign in order to gain a legal majority and use it to block the government's budget indiscriminately.

The 45 people convicted received sentences ranging from four years and two months to ten years. Legal expert Benny Tai was given the longest sentence.

They pleaded guilty or were found guilty of plotting a coup by three judges approved by the government.

The judges pointed out that in this decision the plans of the activists to make changes through elections will be undermining the authority of the government and creating a constitutional dispute.

Observers said the case shows how authorities have suppressed dissent following massive anti-government protests in 2019, as well as cracking down on the media and reducing public choice in elections. They said the major changes show how Beijing's promise to maintain the former British state's independence for 50 years when it returned to China in 1997 is becoming increasingly tense.

The governments of Beijing and Hong Kong insist that the law is necessary for the city's stability.

The coup case involves pro-democracy activists from all walks of life. Most of them had already been in prison for more than three and a half years before being sentenced.

Some activists are remorseful, others are scornful

As they pleaded for lesser sentences, some activists were remorseful and apologetic, while others remained defiant.

Lawyers for Tai and several other defendants say their clients believed their actions were legal at the time.

More than 200 people lined up in the rain and wind Tuesday morning to sit in court, including one of the defendants, Lee Yue-shun.

Lee said he hopes that members of the public will show that they care about the development of the court case.

“The interpretation and understanding of society has a great impact on the development of the future of our society,” he said.

A fan known as “Grandpa Wong,” who does not know the English spelling of his name, said he wants to see the convicted activists again. He said he is about 100 years old and he is afraid that he will not be able to see them when they get out of prison.

Wei Siu-lik, a friend of convicted activist Clarisse Yeung, said he arrived at 4 am even though his leg was injured.

“I wanted to let them know that there are still many … coming here for them,” he said.

Police set up heavy security cordons in several wards of the West Kowloon Magistrate's Court as supporters lined up outside.

US says trial 'politically motivated'

The unofficial primary in July 2020, which attracted 610,000 voters, was intended to select pro-democracy candidates for the official elections.

The pro-democracy camp at the time hoped to secure a formal majority, which would allow it to press the demands of the 2019 protests, including greater police accountability and democratic elections for the city leader.

But the government postponed legislative elections that were to follow the primary, citing public health risks during the COVID-19 crisis.

The United States has condemned the trial as “politically motivated” and said the democratically elected people should be freed as they were “peacefully participating in legitimate political activities”.