The 16 had pleaded not responsible to expenses that carry a most sentence of life imprisonment. A complete of 47 pro-democracy activists had been charged following their effort to run unofficial primaries for native elections. The remaining 31 defendants within the trial didn’t contest the costs.
The trial has been overseen by three judges handpicked by the federal government to attempt nationwide safety circumstances, departing from the custom underneath Hong Kong’s frequent legislation system of trial by jury. The judges cited the “involvement of international parts” as grounds to waive a jury trial.
The case underscores Beijing’s willpower to snuff out essential voices within the once-freewheeling metropolis, with each distinguished and lots of reasonable opposition voices in Hong Kong now both in jail or in exile.
The remaining 31 defendants, who pleaded responsible to “conspiracy to commit subversion” — together with 26-year-old activist Joshua Wong and authorized scholar Benny Tai, in addition to different politicians, former lawmakers and unionists — will likely be sentenced on the finish of the trial.
Many have been held in custody for the previous two years, with judges expressing concern they may endanger nationwide safety if granted bail.
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The cost carries a most sentence of life imprisonment.
Beijing in 2020 imposed a brand new nationwide safety legislation on Hong Kong — which was speculated to take pleasure in a degree of autonomy underneath the “one nation, two methods” framework — after months-long pro-democracy protests throughout the town all through 2019.
The legislation, drafted by Beijing and handed with none session in Hong Kong, criminalizes broadly worded crimes akin to “secession,” “subversion,” “terrorism” and “collusion with international forces.” It has remodeled Hong Kong and its establishments — together with colleges, the media, the legislature and the courts — chipping away on the territory’s promised autonomy, which was meant to be preserved till 2047.
After the legislation was launched, Tai, a authorized scholar and activist who launched protests in 2014 that spiraled right into a 79-day occupation of metropolis streets, organized an unofficial major election for activists and politicians to run in legislative council elections. He hoped to safe a majority within the legislature for pro-democracy candidates.
Greater than 600,000 voters took half within the citywide major, however then the manager determined to delay the legislative election, citing points associated to the coronavirus.
