Hong Kong political activists go on trial
Some of Hong Kong's bestknown pro-democracy activists have gone on trial in the biggest prosecution yet under a law imposed by China's ruling Communist Party to crush dissent.
The 18 defendants could face life in prison if convicted under the national security law critics say is eroding the autonomy promised when Hong Kong returned to China in 1997, and its status as a global business centre.
They were among 47 prodemocracy figures who were arrested in 2021 under the legislation that was imposed following protests in 2019.
Theywerechargedinconnection with an informal 2020 primary election.
The pro-democracy movement has largely dried up after activists were jailed or went into exile. Growing numbers of young professionals have responded to the erosion of Hong Kong's Western-style civil liberties by leaving for Britain, the United States and other countries.
The United States imposed sanctions on officials it said were to blame for the abuses.
The primary election in 2020 aimed at picking pro-democracy candidates who could win controloftheterritory'slegislative Council.
Prosecutors accuse them of trying to paralyse Hong Kong's government and topple
the city's leader by securing a majority to veto budgets.
The prosecution involves many of the city's most prominent activists, including legal scholar Benny Tai, former student leader Joshua Wong and opposition party leaders Wu Chi-wai and Alvin Yeung.
In previous proceedings, the 18 activists had indicated they intended to plead not guilty. But two of them - former district councillor Ng Kin-wai and businessman Mike Lam - later changed their minds, joining
the other 29 activists, including Tai, Wong, Yeung and Wu, who plan to admit the charges.
While most of the 47 activists who were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion have been detained without bailfornearlytwoyears,former legislators Raymond Chan and Helenawong,whoappearedin court on Monday, were among the minority who were granted bail based on strict conditions.
Ahead of the opening statements, the pair, alongside 14 other activists, pleaded not
guiltyinfrontofthejudges,who wereapprovedbythecity'sleader John Lee to oversee the case. Ng and Lam pleaded guilty.
Those who intend to plead guilty will receive their sentencing after the trial. Some of them, including Wong and former district councillor Lester Shum, were in the courtroom to observe the trial.
Earlier in the morning, more than200people,includingrelatives and friends of the defendants, lined up outside the court buildingaslocalpolicestepped
up security in the area.
Some people at the front of the line, including a group of more than 10 who came at 6am to secure a seat for the hearing, said they had no clue what the trial was about. That prompted pro-democracy activists among the spectators to question whether they were just trying to occupy the seats so that other members of the public could not get a place to observe the high-profile trial.