The panel of three national security judges found 14 Hong Kong Democrats guilty, while two were acquitted of conspiracy to commit subversion.
Lawrence Lai and Lee Yue-shun became the first two acquittals tried under the 2020 Hong Kong National Security Law. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions extended the bail conditions for both individuals pending a possible appeal from authorities.
Authorities took the 14 individuals into custody after the ruling, and they now face a sentencing hearing at a later date. The judges could give them a sentence of three years to life in prison, depending on their role.
The 16 were part of the Hong Kong 47: the 47 pro-democracy activists city authorities arrested in January 2021 due to their role in unofficial primaries held to determine which candidates to put forward to gain a majority in that year’s Legislative Council election.
