Hong Kong Protests

7 Hong Kong activists fail to overturn convictions over 2019 protest

Seven of Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy activists lost their final bid to overturn their convictions at the city's top court on Monday over their roles in one of the biggest anti-government protests in 2019. Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper; Martin Lee, the founding chairman of the city's Democratic Party; and five former pro-democracy lawmakers were found guilty in 2021 of organising and participating in an unauthorised assembly. Their convictions dealt a blow to the city's flagging pro-democracy movement during a political crackdown on dissidents following the protests. Last year, the activists partially won their appeal at a lower court, with their convictions quashed over the charge of organising an unauthorised assembly. But their convictions over taking part in the assembly were upheld and they continued their legal battle at the city's top court. On Monday, judges at the Court of Final Appeal ruled against their appeal over the remaining

Publisher Jimmy Lai to testify in his defence at Hong Kong security trial

A defence lawyer said Thursday that prominent publisher Jimmy Lai will testify in his defence in the landmark national security trial brought under a Beijing-imposed law that has all but wiped out public dissent. Lai, the 76-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was arrested in 2020 during a crackdown on the mass pro-democracy protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019. He was charged with colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to put out seditious publications. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. On Wednesday, Lai's lawyer Robert Pang argued his client had no case to answer because the prosecutors' evidence was insufficient. Pang said the prosecution had failed to prove Lai's intent after the introduction of the 2020 law and stressed the importance of freedom of speech. But judges Esther Toh, Susana D'Almada Remedios and Alex Lee ruled against him on Thursday. Having considered all the submission, we ruled t

Activist Joshua Wong asks lesser sentence in Hong Kong's security case

Prominent activist Joshua Wong asked for a lesser sentence in court on Friday after he earlier pleaded guilty in Hong Kong's biggest national security case. Wong was one of 47 activists charged in 2021 under a Beijing-imposed national security law with conspiracy to commit subversion for their involvement in an unofficial primary. The activists were accused of attempting to paralyse Hong Kong's government and topple the city's leader by aiming to win a legislative majority and using it to block city budgets indiscriminately. Wong and 44 others admitted their liability or were convicted by the court. They could be sentenced to life in prison, though those who pleaded guilty have a better chance of receiving shorter sentences. Their mass prosecution dealt a severe blow to the city's once-thriving pro-democracy movement. Wong waved at the public gallery after he walked into the courtroom. Former Democratic Party chair Wu Chi-wai, former pro-democracy lawmaker Jeremy Tam and activist Ta

Hong Kong court nears sentencing activists for unofficial primary

A Hong Kong court began mitigation hearings for prominent pro-democracy activists who were convicted under a national security law and now face up to life in prison. The activists were among 47 democracy advocates who were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion in 2021 for their involvement in an unofficial primary, in the biggest case brought under the Beijing-imposed national security law. They were accused of attempting to paralyze Hong Kong's government and topple the city's leader by securing a legislative majority and using it to block city budgets. Forty-five of the defendants either pled guilty or were convicted by a three-judge panel whose membership was approved by the government. The judges said their plans to effect change through the election would have undermined the government's authority and created a constitutional crisis, in a verdict that critics said raised doubt about judicial independence. The first batch of defendants to plead for lenient sentences ...

Hong Kong invokes new law to cancel passports of 6 overseas-based activists

The Hong Kong government on Wednesday cancelled the passports of six overseas-based activists under the new national security law, stepping up its crackdown on dissidents who moved overseas. Those affected were former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, unionist Mung Siu-tat and activists Simon Cheng, Finn Lau, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi all accused of endangering national security by the authorities. The government said they have absconded to the UK. Last year, police offered rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars (USD 128,000) each for information leading to their arrests and drew sharp criticism from Western governments. According to the official statement, authorities also banned anyone from providing funds or economic resources to the six, leasing properties to them or forming any joint venture with them, among other restrictions. Doing so without authorisation would carry a penalty of up to seven years in prison. The government said it acted because the six were continuing to .

Two British judges resign from Hong Kong court, cite 'political situation'

Two British judges have resigned from Hong Kong's top court, the city's judiciary said, deepening worries over the city's rule of law under a Beijing-imposed national security law. The judiciary said in a statement Thursday that Jonathan Sumption and Lawrence Collins, who both serve as non-permanent overseas judges of Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal, have tendered their resignations to the city leader. But it did not give further details about their decisions. Collins told The Associated Press that his resignation was because of the political situation in Hong Kong." But he said he continues "to have the fullest confidence in the court and the total independence of its members. Sumption said he would make a statement next week. Hong Kong's Chief Justice Andrew Cheung noted their decisions with regret in a statement, reiterating the judiciary's commitment to upholding the rule of law and judicial independence in the city. Hong Kong, a former British colony, is a common law ...

Hong Kong court convicts 14 pro-democracy activists under China imposed law

A Hong Kong court on Thursday convicted 14 pro-democracy activists in the city's biggest national security case under a law imposed by Beijing that has all but wiped out public dissent. Those who were found guilty included former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong and Raymond Chan. But the three judges approved by the government to oversee the case acquitted two former district councilors Lee Yue-shun and Lawrence Lau. They were among 47 democracy advocates who were prosecuted in 2021 for their involvement in an unofficial primary election. Prosecutors had accused them of attempting to paralyse Hong Kong's government and topple the city's leader by securing the legislative majority necessary to indiscriminately veto budgets. Some of Hong Kong's best-known pro-democracy activists charged in the city's biggest national security case will begin to hear their verdicts as early as Thursday, facing up to life in prison if convicted under a law imposed by Beijing that h

Hong Kong will keep a watch for non-compliance with ban on protest song

Hong Kong's leader said Tuesday his administration would keep monitoring for any non-compliance with a court order that bans a popular protest song, days after YouTube blocked access to dozens of videos of the tune in the city. The ban targets anyone who broadcasts or distributes Glory to Hong Kong popularly sung during huge anti-government protests in 2019 to advocate for the separation of the city from China. It also prohibits any actions that misrepresent the song as the national anthem with the intent to insult the anthem. In his weekly news briefing, Chief Executive John Lee said if the government found any instances of non-compliance, it would then notify the relevant internet platforms about the content of the injunction. I believe that operators in general operate within the law, so we will continue to monitor the situation, Lee said. The court ban sought by the government has raised concerns over a further decline in the city's freedom of expression and internet freedom.

YouTube blocks access to Hong Kong protest anthem videos after court order

Glory to Hong Kong was an anthem of anti-government protests in 2019

China vows to 'safeguard' national security with new laws at conclave

China last month broadened its state secrets law to include 'work secrets' in the scope of restricted sensitive information, and enacted a controversial counter-espionage law last year

Hong Kong begins public consultation to implement national security law

Hong Kong begun public consultation on Tuesday on enacting its own national security law, beginning a process to implement legislation that for years was widely opposed by residents who feared the erosion of their civil liberties. Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 and a crackdown on dissent followed. Many of the city's leading pro-democracy activists have been arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile. Dozens of civil society groups have been disbanded, and outspoken media outlets like Apple Daily and Stand News have been forced to shut down. Both the Hong Kong and Beijing governments have hailed the law for restoring stability after the massive pro-democracy protests in 2019. But the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, requires the city to enact its own national security law. I want to say that legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law is something that we need to do and have to do as soon as possible because it is our constitutional ...

Hong Kong holds first 'patriots only' local elections after overhaul

Residents went to the polls on Sunday in Hong Kong's first district council elections since an electoral overhaul was implemented under Beijing's guidance of patriots administering the city, effectively shutting out all pro-democracy candidates. Turnout is expected to be much lower than in the last elections, held at the height of the 2019 anti-government protests. Some pro-democracy voters, dismayed by the drastic rule changes, including the elimination of most directly elected seats, are turning their backs on the polls. Members of the League of Social Democrats, one of the city's remaining pro-democracy political parties, had planned to stage a small protest to express their discontent over the electoral rule changes. But their members were arrested by the police after being stopped and searched, the group said. The police said three people were arrested on suspicion of intending to incite others to disrupt the elections, but did not provide names. The final turnout in the vote

China authorities ban US firm Kroll's employee from leaving Mainland China

Michael Chan, a Hong Kong-based managing director, is assisting an investigation into a case that dates back a few years

Hong Kong activists partially win to quash convictions over 2019 protest

Seven of Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy advocates had part of their convictions quashed on Monday over their roles in one of the biggest pro-democracy protests in 2019. Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper; Martin Lee, the founding chairman of the city's Democratic Party; and five former pro-democracy lawmakers, including barrister Margaret Ng, had been found guilty of organising and participating an unauthorised assembly. Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan, Leung Kwok-hung and Cyd Ho were jailed between eight to 18 months. Martin Lee, an octogenarian nicknamed the city's Father of Democracy," Ng and Albert Ho were given suspended jail sentences. Their convictions two years ago and their sentences were widely seen as another blow to the city's flagging democracy movement under an unprecedented crackdown by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities. Judge Andrew Macrae said he and other judges of the Court of Appeal unanimously quashed their convictions over the charge of .

Hong Kong protest song disappears from music streaming sites, social media

A popular Hong Kong protest song was no longer available on Wednesday on several major music streaming sites and social media platforms, after the government sought an injunction to ban the tune. Glory to Hong Kong rose to popularity during the 2019 pro-democracy protests, and became an unofficial protest anthem. In 2020, the government outlawed the protest slogan Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times over secessionist and subversive connotations, and the song was widely considered to be banned in the city as its lyrics contained parts of the slogan. Hong Kong, once a bastion of free speech and expression, has come under tighter scrutiny by Beijing after the unrest in 2019. Since then, its political system has undergone a major overhaul to ensure that only patriots loyal to Beijing can hold office. More than 250 people have been arrested under a sweeping national security law passed in 2020 that critics say is aimed at suppressing dissent. The song rose to the top of Apple .

Hong Kong's pro-democracy news outlet shuts down over safety fears

The independent Hong Kong news site Citizen News has announced that it will shut down to "ensure the safety of everyone"

3 Hong Kong democracy activists found guilty over June 4 assembly last year

Three Hong Kong activists were found guilty of unauthorised assembly over a June 4 vigil last year to mark Beijing's 1989 crackdown on protesters in and around Tiananmen Square

8 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists on trial over banned Tiananmen vigil

A trial began Monday for Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai and seven other pro-democracy activists

Hong Kong's pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily says it may shut down

Police last week arrested five top editors and executives of Apple Daily under the city's tough national security law on suspicion of foreign collusion

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, nine others sentenced to prison

Amid China's crackdown, Hong Kong's pro-democracy leaders were sentenced to jail over violation of the National Security Law