Hong Kong’s largest national security trial opened on Monday (Feb 6) with dozens of pro-democracy figures accused of trying to topple the government in a case that critics say reflects the criminalisation of dissent in the Chinese territory.
The 47 defendants, who include prominent activists as well as a legal scholar and former lawmakers, face up to life in prison if convicted.
Sixteen of them have pleaded not guilty to charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion” over involvement in an unofficial primary election organised ahead of legislature polls.
The other 31 have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced after the trial.
A rare, small protest erupted before the court convened, with supporters carrying a banner that read “Crackdown is shameless” and “Immediately release all political prisoners”.
Another protester was seen raising a fist in solidarity as a large number of police stood nearby.
The defendants say they are being persecuted for routine politics, while rights groups and observers say the trial illustrates how the legal system is being used to crush what remains of the opposition.
Most of the group have already spent nearly two years behind bars.
They now face proceedings expected to last more than four months, overseen by judges handpicked by the government.
Theirs is the largest case to date under the sweeping national security law that China imposed on Hong Kong after democracy protests in 2019.
Beijing says the law was needed to curb the unrest, which brought tear gas and police brawls onto the streets of the Asian financial hub.
The trial shows the path Hong Kong is now taking,” 21-year-old journalism student Robin told AFP from outside the court where he had been waiting for over 14 hours.
