Four individuals implicated in the significant national security trial known as the “Hong Kong 47”, pro-democracy figures accused of conspiracy to commit subversion, were released from jail on Friday, marking the second batch of releases within a month after spending over four years in prison. Among those freed was Jimmy Sham, a seasoned political activist and advocate for LGBTQ rights, who had also led the Civil Human Rights Front, one of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy groups that disbanded in 2021 for fear of persecution. This group played a crucial role in organizing vast pro-democracy rallies in 2019, drawing millions to the streets.
The others who regained their freedom were Kinda Li, Roy Tam, and Henry Wong. Upon their release, Sham, speaking to reporters, expressed his intention to spend some time with his family later in the day, while Li thanked the gathered press for their rigorous work before heading inside.
This batch of releases closely follows the early April liberation of four former pro-democracy lawmakers—Claudia Mo, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam, and Gary Fan—who were set free from three different prisons across Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong 47 were initially arrested and charged in 2021 under a national security law imposed by Beijing, facing the possibility of life imprisonment. Their alleged offense was conspiracy to commit subversion, primarily through their organization of an unofficial primary election in 2020 aimed at selecting candidates for a legislative election. This was perceived as a threat to the government’s stability, with accusations they planned to gain a majority to block government legislative actions and force a resolution. The primary was subsequently postponed and replaced with an electoral reform ensuring only “patriots” could contest in elections.
The trial of the Hong Kong 47, which concluded with 45 convictions and only two individuals acquitted, has drawn stern criticism from human rights organizations and several Western governments, who labeled the trial as politically motivated. Conversely, Hong Kong and Beijing assert that all individuals were treated equally under the national security laws and that the trial was fair.
Since the significant pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019, which continued for the better part of the year, China has tightened its grip on the democratic opposition, as well as liberal elements within civil society and media, through extensive national security legislation that criminalizes a wide range of dissenting behaviors. These laws, which criminalize even benign forms of protest, have effectively stifled opposition to the Chinese government’s growing influence in Hong Kong.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/30/hong-kong-releases-second-group-democrats-jailed-four-years-national-security-trial
