Explainer | Hong Kong 47: who are the key defendants in national security trial over Legco primary and what do they claim?
- Sixteen defendants will receive verdict in March 2024 at the earliest to find out whether their involvement in primary constitutes ‘grand strategy of subversion’
- Thirty-one others pleaded guilty to conspiracy to subvert state power in landmark national security trial
Thirty-one others, including the primary’s four organisers, will also have to wait for the same duration before a verdict on their cases is delivered after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to subvert state power, an offence punishable by up to life imprisonment.
The opposition-led primary was held in July 2020 to pick the strongest candidates to compete in the official Legislative Council election, due to take place two months later.
The government cited the coronavirus pandemic as the reason for postponing the race. During a year-long adjournment, the opposition camp faced an unprecedented crackdown, with Beijing introducing changes to the city’s electoral system to ensure “patriots” ruled Hong Kong.
Here is a closer look at the jury-free trial unfolding before three judges hand-picked by the city leader to oversee national security proceedings, and what to expect going forward.
