Hong Kong 47: city condemns Western nations for ‘unfounded smears’ over guilty verdict in subversion case
- City authorities defend court’s ruling in high-profile subversion case, arguing judges ‘clearly set out the reasons and consideration underlying the conviction’
- High Court earlier handed down guilty verdict to 14 opposition figures in subversion case involving unofficial Legislative Council ‘primary’ in 2020, while acquitting two
Hong Kong authorities have strongly condemned “unfounded smears” by foreign governments, politicians and media over a court ruling in a high-profile subversion case against 47 opposition figures.
Friday’s statement was issued in response to criticisms from Western governments, politicians and NGOs over the guilty verdict handed down a day earlier to 14 opposition figures in the subversion case involving an unofficial Legislative Council “primary” in 2020.
Two men were acquitted during the trial, while the other 31 defendants earlier pleaded guilty.
“In the 318-page judgment, the court has clearly set out the reasons and consideration underlying the conviction, and confirmed the occurrence of the offence of conspiracy to commit subversion,” a Hong Kong government spokesman said.
“Such criminal acts endangering national security had absolutely nothing to do with the so-called fight for democracy and human rights.”
The spokesman also maintained that the United Kingdom had no right of supervision over Hong Kong following the 1997 handover.