Canada ‘Deeply Concerned’ Over Guilty Verdict of 47 Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activists: Global Affairs

Representatives from various consulates wait outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong ahead of verdicts in the trial of the “Hong Kong 47” on May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

Global Affairs Canada has said it is troubled by guilty verdicts handed down in a trial of 47 well-known pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.

“Canada is deeply concerned at the guilty verdicts handed down in the National Security Law (NSL) mass trial of 47 pro-democracy politicians and advocates known as the “Hong Kong 47” or “NSL 47,” a May 30 statement said.

The 47 people were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion in 2021 under a Chinese national security law for their role in an unofficial primary election. Fourteen of the 16 defendants who pleaded not guilty were convicted on May 30, while the other two were acquitted. Thirty-one of the 47 pleaded guilty. Those who were convicted could be sentenced to between three years to life in prison.

“The 47 defendants in this case were arrested and prosecuted for peaceful political activity, including organizing an unofficial primary election,” Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said. “Among them, many were denied bail and held in pre-trial detention for almost two years.”

GAC said the trial demonstrates Hong Kong’s national security laws are being used to silence opposition to China’s rule both in Hong Kong and overseas.

“Canada recognizes Hong Kong’s need to address legitimate national security considerations. Hong Kong’s national security laws, however, fail to safeguard the human rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law and in international instruments to which Hong Kong is a party,” the statement said.

The Hong Kong government has said it will be appealing the acquittal of the two individuals, something that GAC said is “deeply troubling.”

“Canada reiterates its recommendation to China at the UN’s Universal Periodic Review of its human rights record to repeal the NSL and for Hong Kong authorities to end the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.”

The UK, United States, and some other countries have also criticized the trial and called for the release of the accused. Diplomats from several countries attended the court hearing.

“Today’s verdict will only further tarnish Hong Kong’s international reputation. It sends a message that Hong Kongers can no longer safely and meaningfully participate in peaceful political debate,” Britain’s Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne Marie Trevelyan said.

The court has scheduled a hearing on June 25 to consider sentencing.

The trial for the 16 accused started in February 2023. In total, 50 people were arrested in January 2021, leading to 47 of them being charged.

They have been accused of being involved in a plot that would disrupt and paralyze the Hong Kong government, forcing the city’s leader to resign. However, the defendants say the primary election was an attempt to identify the strongest candidates so they could run in the official election and win a majority in Hong Kong’s legislature.

Following the court’s verdict on the 14, the chief superintendent of the police national security department said they were still investigating eight other people who had been arrested in 2021, which may lead to more charges.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.