Latest news with #opposition figures
South China Morning Post
16 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Appeals continue for 11 Hong Kong opposition figures jailed for subversion
Lawyers representing 11 Hong Kong opposition figures continued advancing arguments in court in a bid to overturn their convictions for conspiracy to subvert state power, saying they could not be held liable under the national security law for trying to trigger a constitutional mechanism to oust the city leader. Legal counsel on Tuesday argued that lawmakers were entitled to use their votes as a bargaining chip to push their political demands, while urging an appellate court to be cautious about criminalising political conduct in the legislature. But prosecutors said the appellants' complaint was premised on the 'wrong footing' and stressed the allegation targeted the group's 'scheme' to paralyse government operations and topple the chief executive. The prosecution also dismissed the appellants' defence that they were fighting for universal suffrage as a 'red herring.' They also argued that it would be absurd to suggest lawmakers could do as they pleased without observing the Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution, which requires the legislature to 'examine and approve' bills and lawmakers to abide by their oath of office.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong 47: court begins hearing appeals against activists' convictions
Legislators are entitled to prevent the passage of government budgets and bills to achieve political aims, lawyers representing 11 Hong Kong opposition figures have said, as they seek to overturn convictions for conspiracy to subvert state power following the city's largest national security trial Legal counsel on Monday urged an appellate court to refrain from adjudicating on 'political matters', saying that any 'peaceful' attempt to force the government to accede to a political agenda should be allowed in a democratic society. They also challenged the trial court's interpretation of the national security law in the high-profile case involving 47 activists and contended that the exercise of lawmakers' veto powers could not amount to 'unlawful means' that enabled a subversive act. More than 100 police officers were stationed at West Kowloon Court for the first oral hearing in the case's appeal proceedings. Three Court of First Instance judges last year convicted 14 of 16 defendants who denied plotting to paralyse the government through their involvement in an unofficial legislative 'primary' election in July 2020. The trial ran for 118 days from February to December 2023. The judges had earlier found the primary to be part of a wider plot to 'undermine, destroy or overthrow' the city government.
