Biweekly political prisoner trial developments in Hong Kong (8 July - 19 July)

Development 1: Mitigation hearings for Hong Kong 47 case delayed due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’

After prominent figures penned mitigation letters for some of the 47 democrats, Tam Tak-chi advanced an appeal bid against his sedition conviction, and Winnie Yu claimed in court, “Perhaps the only wrong I have committed was that I love Hong Kong too much,” the trial of the 47 democrats has been delayed due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’.

The adjournment was called by Justice Andrew Chan on 16 July, postponing mitigation for Sam Cheung, Ng Kin-wai, Eddie Chu, Wong Ji-yuet, Kwok ka-ki, Andrew Wan, Carol Ng, and Roy Tam from 30 July to 1 August to 27 August to 29 August. Mitigation for defendants Gwyneth Ho, Alvin Yeung, Ventus Lau, Owen Chow, Ray Chan, Gary Fan, Lam Cheuk-ting, Hendrick Lui, Mike Lam, Ricky Or, and Leung Kwok-hung from 5 to 8 August to 2 to 5 September.

The mitigation hearings follow fourteen of the 47 democrats being found guilty in May this year of alleged subversion under the Hong Kong National Security Law for organising and participating in “unofficial” primary elections for the Hong Kong Legislative Council in July 2020. The sentencing for those found guilty is expected later this year, with imprisonment for this offence ranging from three years to life. 

This trial is the largest and one of the most significant national security trials since the National Security Law was imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in 2020, and many of the defendants have been behind bars for over three years. The outcome of these mitigation pleas, as well as the expected sentencing of this case, will set a precedent for cases involving legislators, activists, trade unionists and journalists who have been found guilty for simply doing their jobs and partaking in activities that are in line with their internationally-guaranteed rights and freedoms.

Development 2: Hong Kong student charged over peaceful shopping mall protest four years ago

Issac Lee, a 20-year-old Hong Kong student, was charged with unlawful assembly for his role in a peaceful shopping mall protest that took place hours before the imposition of the National Security Law on 30 June 2020. 

The demonstration involved around 100 people gathering in a Kwun Tong’s apm shopping mall for a “sing with you” protest, in which people publicly gather to sing as a show of solidarity. In 2022, Arthur Chiang, Truvian Wong, Cheung Chung-lun pleaded guilty to participating in this demonstration and each served eight weeks’ imprisonment. 

Mr Lee is the latest alleged suspect to be affiliated with the protest, and appeared in court on Tuesday. He was remanded in custody, and his case will next be raised in court this upcoming Tuesday.

香港政治犯審訊簡報（2024年7月8日至19日）

事件1：因「未能預見情況」 47人案餘下被告求情押後

民主派初選47人案的被告正分批求情，45名罪成被告中，共有26人完成求情，尚餘參選新界西的八人和參選新界東的11人。法庭週二（16 日）發信通知，稱因「未能預見的情況」（unforeseen circumstances）而押後處理餘下求情。

新西參選人的求情原於7月30日至8月1日處理，現押後至8月27日至29日，受影響八名被告為張可森、伍健偉、朱凱廸、黃子悅、郭家麒、尹兆堅、吳敏兒、譚凱邦。

新東參選人的求情原於8月5日至8日處理，現押後至9月2日至5日，受影響11名被告為何桂藍、楊岳橋、劉頴匡、鄒家成、陳志全、范國威、林卓廷、呂智恆、林景楠、柯耀林、梁國雄。

事件2：20歲學生涉2020年參與商場「和你Sing」 事隔四年後被控非法集結