Activism

Hong Kong Has Sentenced 14 Pro-Democracy Activists For Trying To Take Part In The Election In 2020

They are part of 47 pro-democracy activists arrested in 2021 under the national security law for “conspiracy to commit subversion”.

Isha Jain

Isha Jain

— 4 min read
Hong Kong Has Sentenced 14 Pro-Democracy Activists For Trying To Take Part In The Election In 2020

Hong Kong has sentenced 14 pro-democracy activists for trying to take part in the election in 2020.

Hong Kong arrests 14 activists under subversion
Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong and winners of the democratic primaries pose for a photo op during a press conference on July 15, 2020 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo credit: Getty)

They are part of 47 pro-democracy activists arrested in 2021 under the national security law for “conspiracy to commit subversion”.

hong kong court sentences 14 pro-democracy activists
Pro-democracy demonstrators gesture the "Five demands, not one less" protest motto outside the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts during a hearing for 47 opposition activists charged with violating the citys national security law in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, March 1, 2021. (Photo credit: Getty)

The activists and lawmakers were accused of trying to overthrow the government by trying to select pro-democracy candidates to take part in the legislative election in July 2020.

14 hong kong activists and lawyers sentenced under subversion
(Back row L-R) Agnes Chow, Anthony Wong, Tiffany Yuen, Denise Ho, Lester Shum (front row L-R) Eddie Chu, Joshua Wong, and Gregory Wong pose while compaigning during a primary election in Hong Kong on July 11, 2020. (Photo credit: Getty)

They were arrested in early morning raids in January 2021, and detained for more than three years.

14 out of 47 activists sentenced to jail in hong kong
Joshua Wong, activist and former members of pro-democracy party Demosisto, arrives at the Lai Chi Kok Reception Center during an adjournment of his arraignment in Hong Kong, China, early on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (Photo credit: Getty)

On Thursday, May 30, a court found that 14 out of the 47 activists would have created “constitutional crisis for Hong Kong” with their actions.

people in hong kong protests against sentencing of 14 activists
Gwyneth Ho (C), a candidate of New Territory East, together with (from L-R) Agnes Chow, Denise Ho, Anthony Wong, Gwyneth Ho, Lester Shum, Glacier Kwong, Eddie Chu, Gregory Wong, campaign during a primary election in Hong Kong on July 11, 2020. (Photo credit: Getty)

People charged with subversion can face prison time ranging from 3 years to life imprisonment.

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