The Hong Kong government on Sunday charged 47 pro-democracy advocates with violating the national security law. Under the law prohibits citizens from “conspiracy to commit subversion”.
The 47 were a part of 53 leaders, who were arrested for organising and being part of pro-democracy protests in 2019; the group included veteran leaders who were also accused of taking part in and organising planning and participating in a primary election for the city's democratic opposition. The national security law was imposed on Hong Kong, by Beijing in July 2020. Under the law, activists could be charged with subversion or for colluding with foreign forces.
The elections last year were organised to identify strong pro-democracy leaders, who hoped to win seats in the legislative council.
Those charged with violating the national security law were denied bail and will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Monday. Among those charged include Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai, Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu and its vice-chairman Jeremy Tam Man-ho.
Charging the pro-democracy leaders, in practice ends the semi-autonomous status Britain bestowed on Hong Kong as it handed over the city’s administration to China in 1997. China, by imposing the national security law, intended to curb the individual freedoms people of Hong Kong enjoyed.
In a statement, the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao said the charges “make clear that legitimate political pluralism will no longer be tolerated” there.
