A Hong Kong court sentenced two prominent pro-democracy leaders,Benny Tai and Joshua Wong, in what is being described as a pivotal moment for the city’s political landscape.
Benny Tai, a former law professor and architect of the plan to bolster opposition candidates in local elections, received the harshest sentence of 10 years.
Joshua Wong, a prominent activist and international face of Hong Kong’s democracy movement, was sentenced to more than four years.
The activists were charged with conspiring to subvert the government through their organisation of an unofficial primary election in 2020.
The primary, which saw hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers participate, aimed to strengthen opposition representation in the city’s legislature.
Prosecutors argued that the initiative was a deliberate attempt to undermine the government, claiming it could have created a constitutional crisis by blocking the pro-Beijing administration’s bills.
The court largely sided with this argument, finding most of the defendants guilty.
Observers have described the trial as a watershed moment for Hong Kong’s democratic aspirations, marking a significant setback for the city’s pro-democracy movement.
Critics argue that the national security law, imposed by Beijing in 2020, has been weaponised to silence dissent and erode the autonomy guaranteed to Hong Kong under the “one country, two systems” framework.
The US has condemned the trial as “politically motivated,” accusing Beijing of undermining Hong Kong’s freedoms and rule of law.
Meanwhile, Beijing and Hong Kong officials maintain that the law is essential for ensuring stability, with the convictions serving as a deterrent to those seeking to challenge China’s sovereignty.
Despite the risks, the case continues to draw significant public interest in Hong Kong.
Days before sentencing, dozens of locals queued outside the court to secure a spot in the public gallery, underscoring the depth of concern over the trial’s outcome.
The sentencing of other key figures further underscores the crackdown on dissent. Gwyneth Ho, a former journalist turned politician, and former lawmakers Claudia Mo and Leung Kwok-hung, received prison terms ranging from four to seven years.
These convictions, analysts say, mark a turning point for Hong Kong’s political landscape, effectively dismantling much of the city’s pro-democracy movement and consolidating Beijing’s grip on the territory.
While officials defend the law as a tool for maintaining order, critics argue that its enforcement has stifled freedoms and eroded trust in Hong Kong’s legal system.
