Hong Kong jails 45 pro-democracy activists in city’s largest security case

Legal scholar Benny Tai is sentenced to 10 years, while dozens of others receive years-long jail terms.

A Hong Kong court has sentenced a leading pro-democracy advocate to 10 years in prison and handed dozens of other activists years-long jail terms in the Chinese territory’s largest national security case.

Benny Tai, a 60-year-old legal scholar who played a prominent role in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests in 2014 and 2019, was handed the lengthy sentence on Tuesday after prosecutors cast him as the “organiser” of a conspiracy by activists and politicians dating back to July 2020.

Tai and 44 others either pleaded guilty or were found guilty of offences related to organising an unofficial primary election to choose pro-democracy candidates for the city’s legislature.

The activists sought to elect lawmakers who would vote down the city’s budget to force the dissolution of the legislature and then the ouster of the city’s leader – something that is allowed for under Hong Kong’s Basic Law.

Prosecutors alleged that the group plotted to “overthrow” the government.

After Tai, the lengthiest sentence was handed down to Owen Chow, 27, who received seven years and nine months for running as a candidate in the election.