A Hong-Kong court is set to finish a major political case next week as it prepares to sentence 45 pro-democracy figures (who got caught in what many call a wide-reaching legal net)
In the early summer of 2024‚ the court found 14 people guilty of plotting against the state while 31 others had already admitted their part in the case; only 2 people were found not-guilty. The trial which started in winter 2021 came after these people took part in unofficial voting events about 4 years ago
The U.S government doesnt agree with the courts decisions:
These verdicts are politically motivated
Local officials say everything was done by-the-book but western countries keep making wrong statements about it. The three special-picked judges will give out sentences that could put some people in jail for many years
The case hits at the core of Hong-Kongʼs political scene – Emilia Wong‚ whose partner Ventus Lau sits in jail says: “This swept away all who stood for democracy here“
Some defendants face health problems now: Eddie Chu cant see well sometimes which makes him feel bad‚ says his friend Debby Chan. But John‚ whoʼs wife Winnie Yu is also waiting for her sentence tells that she doesnt regret standing up for her ideas
The democracy movement in the city has changed its shape since the security rules came in about 4 years ago. Chan points out that while people cant speak up in public now they still keep their hopes alive in private