More than three years and eight months since 45 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists were charged with conspiring to commit subversion, their family members on Tuesday learned when they would next see their loved ones without a screen separating them.
The former legislators, ex-district councillors, and activists received jail sentences ranging from four years and two months to 10 years on Tuesday morning as the landmark national security case came to a close, with prominent legal scholar Benny Tai receiving a decade behind bars.
They were charged, along with two acquitted in May, in early 2021 under the national security law for their involvement in a primary election in July 2020 that aimed to help the pan-democrats seize a majority in the upcoming Legislative Council elections.
Philip Bowring, who is married to former lawmaker Claudia Mo, expressed that it was difficult to comment on the judges’ decisions. Mo, 67, was jailed for four years and two months. The family had been waiting for the sentencing for a long time, and hearing Mo’s jail term meant there would be an “end date,” which Bowring said could be seen as “progress.” He described Mo as being in good spirits, adding: “we will survive this.”
When asked if he and Mo would leave Hong Kong after her release, Bowring said they had no plans to leave the city.
Chan Po-ying, chair of the pro-democracy League of Social Democrats and wife of jailed activist Leung Kwok-hung, called the sentencing a “miscarriage of justice.” Leung, a 68-year-old activist, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison. Raphael Wong, a long-time colleague of Leung, expressed anger but hoped that the democrats could face their sentences with positivity.
Emilia Wong, the girlfriend of jailed activist Ventus Lau, said she felt calm about the sentencing. Lau, who was already serving a separate sentence for rioting, received 53 months in jail. Wong believed that the sentencing would stop people from speaking out after seeing the democrats sent to jail for up to 10 years.
Gwyneth Ho, a former journalist turned activist, was jailed for seven years. In a message posted on her Facebook page, she reflected on the protests and unrest of 2019 and expressed her determination to continue fighting for democracy. Ho pleaded not guilty to subversion and chose not to enter a mitigation plea in July.
Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong’s mini-constitution in June 2020, criminalizing subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces, and terrorist acts. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN, and NGOs.
As family members of the jailed activists grapple with mixed emotions, they continue to show resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Despite the challenges ahead, they remain committed to supporting their loved ones and advocating for democracy in Hong Kong. Their stories serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice in the city.
