HONG KONG – A Chinese court sentenced 10 Hong Kong activists to prison who were caught fleeing the city on a speedboat in a case that attracted international attention and galvanized the city’s opposition.
The convicted activists were part of a group that became known as “Hong Kong 12”. The cases became the focus of a pro-democracy movement that was hampered by restrictions on the pandemic, keeping protesters off the streets, and a new law imposed by Beijing that allows authorities to prosecute people accused of threatening national security.
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“They did not have adequate legal representation, they were held in secret for months and the verdict was rendered after a secret trial.”
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Families and pro-democracy activists have criticized the arrest of the 12 on the continent since the Chinese coast guard intercepted a motorboat bound for Taiwan in late August. Families and lawyers they hired to represent the activists were not allowed to contact them. The defendants were appointed lawyers for the continent, and their trial was held behind closed doors this week.
“They did not have adequate legal representation, they were held in secret for months and the verdict was rendered after a secret trial,” said Eddie Chu, a pro-democracy politician who has been coordinating with the families of 12. “The entire legal process it’s a joke, but with serious consequences – we don’t even know how to appeal the sentence. “
The United States called for the release of activists earlier this week. Foreign diplomats tried to attend the trial, but were not allowed to enter.
Two of the 10 convicted activists – Tang Kai-yin, 31, and Quinn Moon, 33 – were convicted of organizing the escape attempt and received sentences of three years and two years, respectively, the court said. Mr. Tang was also fined 20,000 yuan, equivalent to about $ 3,000, and Ms. Moon was fined 15,000 yuan.
China passed a national security law for Hong Kong that aims to crack down on anti-government protests after a year of unrest. WSJ’s Josh Chin explains why some countries have criticized the law and why critics say it could threaten the city’s status as a global financial center. Photo: May James / Zuma Press
The other eight were sentenced to seven months and fined 10,000 yuan, the court said, adding that they all pleaded guilty at the trial, which took place at Yantian District Court in Shenzhen.
The other two, who were minors at the time of their arrest in August, were handed over to a Hong Kong police station on Wednesday. Chinese prosecutors decided to drop their cases because they were minors after pleading guilty in another hearing behind closed doors, according to the prosecutor’s office and Hong Kong police.
Police said the teenagers, who are now 18 and 17, respectively, will continue to face charges in Hong Kong. Both are accused of arson in connection with their alleged involvement in last year’s protests. In September 2019, the oldest teenager was arrested with four others in an operation in which the police found explosive materials inside an apartment, while the youngest was accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a police station in October last year, reported the police.
In October, city police arrested nine people who they said helped the 12 activists in their escape attempt. The Chinese court statement published on Wednesday suggested that the operation of Mr. Tang and Mrs. Moon was organized by other efforts. Lawyers hired by the defendants’ relatives said they “do not rule out the possibility of more people being arrested”.
Members of the Hong Kong 12 family spoke to the media on Monday.
Photograph:
miguel candela / EPA / Shutterstock
Pro-democracy activists tried to use the cases to reinvigorate the Hong Kong protest movement, which was initially triggered by an extinct bill that would have allowed people to be extradited to mainland China.
Several Hong Kong democracy activists sought refuge this year after the passage of the national security law, including former lawmakers Nathan Law, Ted Hui and Sixtus Leung.
—Natasha Khan contributed to this article.
Write to Joyu Wang at [email protected]
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