Hong Kong Court Rejects Appeals in HK 47 National Security Case

Rights groups argue that upholding the HK47 sentences shows Hong Kong’s courts are enforcing a National Security Law that criminalises peaceful political activity. They say the rejection of all 12 appeals wastes a chance to reduce long prison terms for people whose main act was organising or joining an unofficial primary. They also warn that new sedition and national security cases against commentators and activists will deepen fear and self-censorship in Hong Kong.

• •Amnesty International says the Court of Appeal’s refusal to overturn HK47 convictions confirms that Hong Kong’s judiciary is entrenching the National Security Law rather than correcting its harms.
• •Rights groups argue that the 12 HK47 activists were punished for organising and taking part in a peaceful primary election in 2020.
• •Amnesty International states that rejecting the HK47 appeals was a missed opportunity to start restoring justice and easing pressure on Hong Kong’s civil society.
• •Rights advocates warn that the continued use of colonial-era sedition laws against online commentators shows authorities are widening the range of speech that can lead to prison.
• •Campaigners maintain that keeping the HK47 activists in jail will discourage future opposition organising and weaken public trust in Hong Kong’s courts.