The defendants, who include some of the city's most prominent activists, face up to life in prison if convicted of "conspiracy to commit subversion" for involvement in an unofficial primary election.
The group reflects a broad cross-section of Hong Kong's opposition. Aged between 24 and 66, they include democratically elected lawmakers and district councillors, as well as unionists, academics and others, with political stances ranging from modest reformists to radical localists.
As the trial gets underway, here is a brief look at some of the defendants and how they have pled:
- Joshua Wong -
One of the most recognisable faces of Hong Kong's democracy movement, the 26-year-old has been a thorn in Beijing's side for more than a decade after shooting to prominence during student-led protests.
The subject of a Netflix documentary that depicted him in a David-and-Goliath-style fight, Wong has been in and out of prison for his involvement in various demonstrations, including huge and often violent democracy rallies that rocked Hong Kong in 2019.
Wong, who was denied bail, has pleaded guilty in this case and through supporters wrote on Facebook ahead of the trial: "I can feel that I am not facing the sentence coming this year alone".
- Benny Tai -
A devout Christian law professor, Tai was previously jailed for helping lead peaceful democracy protests in 2014 and lost his job because of that conviction.
A non-violence advocate, he has embraced civil disobedience and is seen by authorities as the mastermind behind the primary election that sparked this case.
In their opening statement, the prosecution accused Tai of "initiating the scheme".
His idea was to unite Hong Kong's disparate democracy groups into a single coalition that could win a majority for the first time.
Halfway through the campaign, Beijing's new security law was imposed and the primary was declared an illegal attempt to subvert the government.
Tai, 58, is currently out on bail and pleaded guilty.
- Leung Kwok-hung -
Over the years, avid Marxist and democracy campaigner Leung -- better known as "Long Hair" -- has been in and out of prison for his activism, first against colonial Britain and then China's increasingly authoritarian rule.
A stalwart figure at the city's rallies, he could often be seen at the front of marches, leading chants or songs critical of Beijing through his megaphone.
He and his wife, fellow activist Chan Po-ying, founded the League of Social Democrats as a more radical wing of the pro-democracy camp, advocating street actions.
Leung, 66, was denied bail and pleaded not guilty, telling the court on Monday there was no crime to plead to. "Resisting tyranny is not a crime," he said.
- Claudia Mo -
A journalist turned lawmaker, Mo was working as a correspondent for Agence France-Presse when she covered the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, a moment she cites as sparking her political awakening.
She helped found the liberal Civic Party in 2006 and won a seat in 2012.
Known as "Auntie Mo" to her supporters, the 66-year-old was arrested before dawn two years ago while at home with her husband, the British journalist and historian Philip Bowring.
She was denied bail due partially to her exchanges with Western media being deemed a security threat, and has pleaded guilty.
- Owen Chow -
Nursing student Chow was on the frontlines of the 2019 protests before standing in the democracy camp's primary.
A proponent of localism, a movement that focuses on Hong Kong's local identity and autonomy and tends to reject associations with mainland China, Chow refused to pledge allegiance to Beijing when he submitted his nomination form for the legislature election.
His bail was revoked and he has pleaded not guilty, outlining his decision in a Facebook post on Monday.
"Evil will always grow more rampant when goodness lapses, so we must insist on what is right."
- Gwyneth Ho -
Gwyneth Ho, 32, became a hero to the democracy movement for her hours of live reporting on 2019's protests.
She captured footage of government supporters attacking democracy activists at a train station, broadcasting even as the assailants turned on her.
She took part in the primary but was among a dozen candidates disqualified for their political views.
She pleaded not guilty and was refused bail.
Hong Kong's largest national security trial opens
Hong Kong (AFP) Feb 6, 2023 -
Hong Kong's largest national security trial opened Monday with dozens of pro-democracy figures accused of trying to topple the government in a case critics say reflects the criminalisation of dissent in the Chinese territory.
The 47 defendants, who include some of the city's most prominent activists, face up to life in prison if convicted.
Sixteen have pleaded not guilty to charges of "conspiracy to commit subversion" over an unofficial primary election.
The other 31 have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced after the trial.
A rare, small protest erupted before the court convened, despite the large police presence.
One man was seen raising his fist in solidarity.
The defendants maintain they are being persecuted for routine politics, while rights groups and observers say the trial illustrates how the legal system is being used to crush what remains of the opposition.
Most of the group have already spent nearly two years behind bars.
They now face proceedings expected to last more than four months, overseen by judges handpicked by the government.
The case is the largest to date under the national security law, which China imposed on Hong Kong after huge democracy protests in 2019 brought tear gas and police brawls onto the streets of the Asian financial hub.
Wielded against students, unionists and journalists, the law has transformed the once-outspoken city.
More than 100 people had queued outside the court, some overnight, hoping to see the trial begin on Monday.
Chan Po-ying, a veteran campaigner and wife of defendant "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung, joined supporters carrying a banner that read "Crackdown is shameless" and "Immediately release all political prisoners".
"This is political persecution," she said outside the court.
Inside, Leung repeated his not-guilty plea, adding: "Resisting tyranny is not a crime."
- 'Retaliation' -
Those on trial represent a cross-section of Hong Kong's opposition -- including activists Joshua Wong and Lester Shum, professor Benny Tai and former lawmakers Claudia Mo and Au Nok-hin.
Most -- 34 out of 47 -- have been denied bail, while the few released from custody must abide by strict conditions, including speech restrictions.
Families of the accused have called these measures "social death".
The group was jointly charged in March 2021 after organising an unofficial primary a year earlier.
Their stated aim was to win a majority in the city's legislature, which would allow them to push the protesters' demands and potentially force the resignation of Hong Kong's leader.
According to prosecutors, this was tantamount to trying to bring down the government.
"This case involves a group of activists who conspired together and with others to plan, organise and participate in seriously interfering in, disrupting or undermining (the government)... with a view to subverting the State power," the prosecution said in its opening statement.
More than 610,000 people -- about one-seventh of the city's voting population -- cast ballots in the primary. Shortly afterwards, Beijing brought in a new political system that strictly vetted who could stand for office.
The case has attracted international criticism, and diplomats from 12 countries including the United States, Britain, Australia and France were seen at the court Monday.
"This is a retaliation against all the Hong Kongers who supported the pro-democratic camp," Eric Lai, a fellow of Georgetown University's Center for Asian Law, told AFP of the trial.
"Beijing will go all out -- even weaponising the laws and court -- to make sure democratic politics in Hong Kong cannot go beyond the lines it drew."
- Test for the judiciary -
The trial is being heard in an open court but without a jury, a departure from the city's common law tradition.
"It is as if the national security law is now the new constitution for Hong Kong and the judges are playing their role in making sure that happens," said Dennis Kwok, Hong Kong's former legal sector legislator.
Weeks before the hearing began, Hong Kong's Chief Justice Andrew Cheung defended the courts against accusations of politicisation.
"Whilst inevitably the court's decision may sometimes have a political impact, this does not mean the court has made a political decision," Cheung said.
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