BREAKING: Court rejects appeals of all 12 activists in landmark ‘Hong Kong 47’ national security case

2026-02-23 - 02:55

A Hong Kong court has dismissed the appeals of all 12 activists who challenged their convictions or jail terms in the city’s landmark national security case. A pro-democracy supporter known as “Grandpa Chan” arriving at West Kowloon Law Courts Building on February 23, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Three Court of Appeal judges upheld the convictions and jail terms of the activists on Monday, delivering their decision at the West Kowloon Law Courts Building. Meanwhile, the judges rejected the government’s appeal against barrister and democracy activist Lawrence Lau’s acquittal, meaning he remains cleared of his charge. Lau entered the court building shortly after 8.30 am, holding a book, “Listening to the Law,” written by US Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. The appeals relate to a high-profile national security case in which 47 opposition figures were arrested and charged with conspiring to commit subversion in 2021. The court eventually found 45 of the defendants guilty over their role in an unofficial primary election in July 2020. The primary aimed to maximise the pro-democracy camp’s chance at winning a legislative majority. Two defendants, Lau and former district councillor Lee Yue-shun, were acquitted. Activist and lawyer Lawrence Lau arriving at West Kowloon Law Courts Building on February 23, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Of the 12 activists who lodged appeals, former journalist Gwyneth Ho sought only to overturn her conviction, while 10 others, including ex-lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung and activist Owen Chow, appealed against both their convictions and sentences. Activist Wong Ji-yuet, who pleaded guilty, appealed her sentence. 12 democrats seeking appeal – click to view Raymond Chan Tat Cheng Owen Chow Gwyneth Ho Kalvin Ho Lam Cheuk-ting Leung Kwok-hung Gordon Ng Helena Wong Wong Ji-yuet Clarisse Yeung Winnie Yu In 2020, the group threatened to indiscriminately veto the government budget to force authorities to concede to political demands, such as universal suffrage, if they gained a legislative majority. In the verdict, the three trial judges ruled the scheme would cause a “constitutional crisis.” Legal scholar Benny Tai received the heaviest sentence of 10 years behind bars.