HONG KONG CHARGES DEMOCRACY SUPPORTERS

Hong Kong authorities charged dozens of prodemocracy figures Sunday with violating the Chinese territory’s harsh new national security law, the latest blow to the dwindling hopes for democracy in the former British colony.

It was the most forceful use yet of the wide-ranging security law, which has cemented Communist Party control over a territory long known for its individual freedoms, independent court system and rule of law.

Before Sunday, only a handful of people had been formally charged with violating the security law, although about 100 have been arrested on suspicion of doing so. Those convicted of violating the law can be sentenced to life in prison.

Police said that each of the 47 people had been charged with a single count of “conspiracy to commit subversion.” They include Benny Tai, a former University of Hong Kong law professor and leading strategist for the pro-democracy camp.

Lester Shum, an activist, was also charged. He said the road to Sunday’s arrests had begun with the mass anti-government protests that convulsed the city in 2019.

“We have long before decided that we would not bow to authoritarianism,” he said. “I hope that everyone will carry this decision in the very difficult days ahead.”

The charges filed Sunday are the latest escalation in the Chinese government’s efforts to bring Hong Kong firmly under control. Its tightening grip sparked the 2019 protests, which included peaceful marches by hundreds of thousands.