A Hong Kong court has affirmed the convictions and sentences of pro-democracy activists, marking a significant development in the largest case prosecuted under Beijing's national security law. The "Hong Kong 47" case involved the arrest and charging of numerous prominent pro-democracy figures in early 2021 with conspiracy to commit subversion.
The legal proceedings stemmed from an unofficial primary election held in mid-2020 by pro-democracy campaigners. Prosecutors argued that the activists aimed to secure a majority in legislative elections to paralyze the government by blocking the city's budget, ultimately forcing the Hong Kong leader's resignation.
This mass prosecution has significantly impacted the city's pro-democracy movement. In 2024, 45 defendants received sentences ranging from four to ten years. Eleven activists who appealed their convictions, including former politicians Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Raymond Chan, and Helena Wong, had their appeals dismissed. Similar outcomes were observed for appeals concerning their sentences.
Lawrence Lau, a former district councillor, was among the two activists initially acquitted, and his acquittal was upheld following a prosecution appeal.
Eighteen of the 45 convicted democrats have since been released after serving their sentences. Officials in Hong Kong and Beijing maintain that the trials were fair and that the national security law has restored order. However, international rights groups and some foreign governments have expressed concerns, with Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas calling the ruling a missed opportunity to correct "mass injustice."