Hong Kong Protests
Hong Kong court rejects appeal in landmark subversion case
The appellants were among 45 opposition figures sentenced to prison in 2024 for organising an unofficial primary election.
Police set up barricades outside West Kowloon Law Courts Building ahead of the national security appeal cases, in Hong Kong, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)
Police in Hong Kong set up barricades outside the West Kowloon Law Courts Building ahead of the national security appeal cases [May James/AP]
The Hong Kong Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by jailed democracy campaigners in a high-profile subversion case brought under the Beijing-imposed national security law.
The verdict on Monday stems from the “Hong Kong 47” case, where many leading pro-democracy activists and politicians were arrested en masse for organising an unofficial primary election that authorities deemed to be a subversive plot.?
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Forty-five of the defendants were sentenced in 2024 to between four years and 10 years in prison, with the punishments drawing criticism from foreign governments and rights groups.
Eleven of the activists who appealed their convictions lost their bids on Monday.
They included former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Raymond Chan and Helena Wong, as well as former journalist Gwyneth Ho.
All appeals over sentences were also dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
Lawrence Lau, a pro-democracy former district councillor, was one of two activists acquitted in the case. Judges upheld his acquittal following an appeal by the prosecution.
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