Hong Kong convicts 14 activists of subversion

Hong Kong has found 14 pro-democracy activists guilty of subversion in the largest use yet of a China-imposed National Security Law.

They included former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung and Helena Wong, journalist-turned-campaigner Gwyneth Ho, and ordinary Hong Kongers who joined the mass protests of 2019 such as nurse Winnie Yu. They were among the 47 activists charged with trying to "overthrow" the government by organising an unofficial primary in 2020 to pick candidates who can run for office.

They would have "[created] a constitutional crisis for Hong Kong" if they had indeed been elected to the legislature, the court ruled on Thursday. Rights groups and several Western countries have condemned the verdict, repeating concerns that the prosecutions were "politically motivated". "The conviction... marks a further deterioration of fundamental freedoms and democratic participation in Hong Kong," said EU foreign affairs spokeswoman, Nabila Massrali.

Outside the court house, Vanessa Chan, the wife of Leung Kwok-hung, was arrested along with three other activists for trying to stage a protest, according to police sources. Ms Chan is now the chairperson of the League of Social Democrats, one of the very few pro-democracy political groups that still exist in Hong Kong.