Hong Kong's High Court sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to jail terms of up to 10 years on Tuesday in a landmark national security trial that has damaged the city's and drawn international condemnation.
A total of 47 pro-democracy activists were arrested and charged in 2021 with conspiracy to commit subversion under a Beijing-imposed and had faced sentences of up to life in prison.
Benny Tai, a former legal scholar who was labelled as an "organiser" of the 47 pro-democracy activists, was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Sentences ranged from just over four years to 10 years.
The charges related to the organising of an unofficial "primary election" in 2020 to select the best candidates for an upcoming legislative election. Prosecutors accused the activists of plotting to paralyse the government by engaging in potentially disruptive acts had they been elected.
The US has criticised the trial as "politically motivated" and said the democrats should be released as they had been "peacefully participating in political activities" that were legal.
US president-elect , has been a staunch critic of the trial and in an earlier open letter criticised the convictions of the 47 democrats as evidence of the national security law's "comprehensive assault on Hong Kong's autonomy, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms".
The Chinese and Hong Kong governments say the national security laws were necessary to restore order after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019, and the democrats have been treated in accordance with local laws.
Closely watched trial
Hundreds of people had queued from the early hours outside the court, many holding umbrellas in light rain as they tried to secure a seat within the main courtroom and several spillover courts.
Authorities deployed a tight police presence outside the West Kowloon Magistrates Court and for several blocks in the vicinity.
"I feel such an injustice needs witnessing," said Margaret, 59, dressed in a white raincoat and black facemask, who was in the queue since Sunday afternoon. "I've long followed their case. They (the democrats) need to know they still have public support."
After a 118 day trial, 14 of the democrats were found guilty in May, including Australian citizen Gordon Ng and activist Owen Chow, while two were acquitted.
The other 31 pleaded guilty, including student activist Joshua Wong and Benny Tai.
Australian man Gordon Ng among those jailed
Australian citizen Gordon Ng is among the 45 activists facing jail time.
In a statement, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government was gravely concerned by the sentencing.
"The Australian Government has advocated at senior levels in support of Mr Ng’s best interests and welfare and has sought consular access to Mr Ng. We will continue to do so," the statement read.
"Australia has expressed our strong objections to the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on the continuing broad application of national security legislation, including in application to Australian citizens.
"We call for China to cease suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, media and civil society, consistent with the Human Rights Committee and Special Procedure recommendations, including the repeal of the National Security Law in Hong Kong."
Senator Simon Birmingham, Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson, called the sentencing of the activists "appalling and unacceptable".
He said in a statement that the sentences "serve as another stark reminder of the Chinese Government’s continued attacks on freedoms and rights in Hong Kong".
He added that the Albanese government has the Coalition's bipartisan support "to emphatically pursue Australia’s rejection of the persecution and detention of Gordon Ng and other pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong".
