Hong Kong's highest court has begun its first trial involving former media mogul Jimmy Lai and other pro-democracy activists over their roles in the 2019 protests. The trial, which includes high-profile figures such as Martin Lee, Margaret Ng, Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan, Leung Kwok-hung, and Cyd Ho, is drawing significant attention due to the involvement of a senior British judge amid a debate on the role of foreign judges in Hong Kong's judiciary. The case hinges on a 2021 UK Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the right to obstructive protest if freedoms are excessively curbed. This trial also marks the anniversary of the closure of Apple Daily, a pro-democracy newspaper, which ceased operations on June 24, 2021, following government repression, with 1 million copies sold in its final issue. The trial is part of a broader crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, with 47 democrats facing mitigation hearings and potential life sentences in the city's largest national security trial.
Mitigation pleas for Hong Kong's biggest ever national security trial against the city's democratic opposition kicked off on Tuesday, in what is expected to be the final stage before sentencing that could see some defendants jailed for life https://t.co/2arCoEeAuN
Landmark trial for 47 Hong Kong democrats enters final stretch before sentencing https://t.co/mYaEyz8nDw https://t.co/iwix2awtzB
Hong Kong prosecutors urge tough sentencing of 45 opposition figures https://t.co/70TikJNGH0
[Recap] Martin Lee, Margaret Ng, Jimmy Lai, Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan, Leung Kwok-hung and Cyd Ho sought to overturn their conviction over 2019 protest. https://t.co/AZ7Ldred1Q
[Recap] Rights activist Chow Hang-tung argued that a designated national security judge’s involvement in an earlier case could compromise her right to a fair trial. https://t.co/bg0xUQtcec
Tomorrow (Tue 25 Jun): The 1st of 5 mitigation hearings for the 45 of the #HK47 who were convicted. 1st up, the 5 organizers: Benny Tai, Au Nok-hin, Andy Chiu, Ben Chung & Gordon Ng. The 1st 4 plead guilty; Ng not guilty. Au, Chiu & Chung were all prosecution witnesses. https://t.co/qJoUyeyAh5
Jimmy Lai, Martin Lee among 7 Hong Kong democrats taking last shot at overturning 2019 demo conviction 🔗 https://t.co/AZ7Ldred1Q https://t.co/FjSk9rT86m
Former Tiananmen vigil activist Chow Hang-tung seeks to remove judge from national security trial over potential bias 🔗 https://t.co/bg0xUQtcec https://t.co/i7IHXFyyas
“The Trial of Jimmy Lai, Press Freedom and Democracy in Hong Kong” Join us at @PressClubAust to hear from Sebastien Lai & @caoilfhionnanna KC about our work & the @SupportJimmyLai #FreeJimmyLai campaign & implications for press freedom in the region https://t.co/lIxDDAaql9
Hong Kong's highest court has begun its first trial of ex-media mogul Jimmy Lai's role in the 2019 pro-democracy protests amid scrutiny following foreign judges' departures. https://t.co/TMASUPWWwE
A senior British judge heard a protest-related case in Hong Kong involving seven high profile democrats, fueling a row over whether foreign judges should continue to sit on the city's highest court amid a national security crackdown https://t.co/4dvnm8Tktv
Hongkonger convicted of secession files first legal challenge against Article 23 law https://t.co/gtQyIgofpV
Top British judge hears Hong Kong protest case amid foreign judges row https://t.co/aFN3PxjcT2 https://t.co/ETFUTM92JP
🔵 TOP BRITISH JUDGE HEARS HONG KONG PROTEST CASE AMID FOREIGN JUDGES ROW A senior British judge on Monday heard a protest-related case in Hong Kong involving seven high profile democrats, fuelling a row over whether foreign judges should continue to sit on the city's highest…
Hong Kong's top court hears its first case on the unlawful assembly convictions of Jimmy Lai & others over the 2019 protests. The debate hinges on a 2021 UK Supreme Court ruling affirming the right to obstructive protest if freedoms are excessively curbed https://t.co/KJDgJLGqus
Hong Kong’s highest court started its first trial over former media mogul Jimmy Lai’s role in pro-democracy protests in 2019 https://t.co/jKn6NLOdDo
Martin Lee & Margaret Ng arrive at the Court of Final Appeal to appeal convictions for "participating in an unlawful assembly" at the protest of 1.7 million on Aug 18, 2019. Their fellow appellants are Cyd Ho & the imprisoned Jimmy Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan, Leung Kwok-hung & Albert Ho. https://t.co/wC4DkAzpcj
Three years ago on June 24, 2021, Apple Daily put out its last issue. 1 million copies were snapped up by supportive #HongKongers. AD was closed by government repression. Jimmy Lai & AD execs were arrested & are still on trial. #FreePress #FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners #FreeHongKong https://t.co/LIpsNGTMFd