Hong Kong court convicts 14 pro-democracy activists, acquits 2, in landmark case: AP explains

(30 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hong Kong - 30 May 2024
1. Prison vans entering West Kowloon Law Courts building and police on duty
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Wober, The Associated Press:
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"Here at West Kowloon Court the hearings of today have just ended. What we've learned so far in this, Hong Kong's biggest national security case, is that out of the 16 people who pled not guilty, 14 of them have been found guilty by the courts. Two of them were found not guilty. They've been allowed bail, but it's possible the Hong Kong judiciary, the prosecution may try to appeal the not guilty verdict. Meanwhile, the other 31 people who are involved in this case, we already know months ago, have pled guilty. Even though we found out a lot today, we've still got to wait for the sentencing and before sentencing. There will be mitigation for all those found guilty, a process where the exact cases can be considered for the length of the sentence. But remember, for this national security law, subversion could mean up to life imprisonment."
3. People entering court, one person holding up hands in display of "five demands, not one less" slogan used during 2019 and 2020 protests
4. Defendant Lawrence Lau, acquitted in case, exiting court
5. Media around defendant, acquitted in case, Lee Yue-shun
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Hong Kong - 2 March 2021
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6. Prison transfer buses with participants in preliminary election being taken into detention centre
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hong Kong - 30 May 2024
7. Kowloon Court exterior
STORYLINE:
Fourteen pro-democracy activists were convicted in Hong Kong’s biggest national security case on Thursday by a court that said their plan to effect change through an unofficial primary election would have undermined the government’s authority and created a constitutional crisis.
After a 2019 protest movement that filled the city’s streets with demonstrators, authorities have all but silenced dissent in Hong Kong through reduced public choice in elections, crackdowns on media and the Beijing-imposed security law under which the activists were convicted.
Those found guilty of conspiracy to commit subversion included former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong and Raymond Chan, and they could face up to life in prison when sentenced later. The two defendants acquitted were former district councilors Lee Yue-shun and Lawrence Lau. But the prosecution said it intends to appeal against the acquittals.
The activists were among 47 democracy advocates who were prosecuted in 2021 for their involvement in the primary. Prosecutors had accused them of attempting to paralyze Hong Kong’s government and topple the city’s leader by securing the legislative majority necessary to indiscriminately veto budgets.
In a summary of the verdict distributed to media, the court said the election participants had declared they would “either actively use or use the power conferred on the (Legislative Council) by the (Basic Law) to veto the budgets.”
Under the Basic Law, the chief executive can dissolve the legislature if a budget cannot be passed but the leader would have to step down if the budget is again vetoed in the newly formed legislature.
The AP's Rafael Wober explained that while Lawrence Lau and Lee Yue-Shun had been acquitted, the Hong Kong judiciary "may try to appeal the not guilty verdict".
He also said there will be "mitigation" for those found guilty, defined as "a process where the exact cases can be considered for the length of the sentence".
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