Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Court of First Instance today handed down its sentences against the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance and related figures, with Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung stating that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government considers the ruling manifests that justice is done and safeguards the city’s core values.
Meeting the media today, Mr Tang said that the Alliance’s objective was to overthrow the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the fundamental system of the People’s Republic of China under the Constitution.
He noted that the group conducted public activities over a long period with the intent to sow hatred against the CPC and the central government in Hong Kong society, while inciting others to subvert state power. Such acts, he stressed, must be deterred in accordance with the law.
Mr Tang said the court reiterated that the defendants were not tried for their political ideology, words or deeds prior to the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), but were convicted solely for unlawful acts committed during the charge period.
He highlighted that the sentence also explicitly set out six reasons why the case was of a serious nature.
First, at the material time of the case, some individuals were still unwilling to accept the exercise of sovereignty by the state over the Hong Kong SAR, nor were they willing to accept the constitutional order established by the Constitution and the Basic Law. The defendants engaged in inciting words and deeds amid a turbulent and unsettled social atmosphere, placing national security and public order at greater risk.
Second, the defendants’ criminal conduct was not an isolated incident, persisting for a period as long as 14 months. They committed the offence through various activities and on various social media platforms.
Additionally, the defendants possessed mobilising power and influence, with the impact of their words and deeds on the general public far exceeding that of lesser-known individuals. Their activities were city-wide with an extensive reach, influencing people of different age groups, and their potential harm must not be underestimated.
Lastly, despite the defendants’ belief that their agenda might be in breach of the Constitution and the HKNSL, they still persistently pursued their course of conduct, which was premeditated.
Mr Tang stressed that safeguarding national security is an obligation of all Hong Kong citizens and the constitutional responsibility of the Hong Kong SAR.
“The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to effectively prevent, suppress and punish acts endangering national security in accordance with the law, ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of the ‘one country, two systems’,” he said.