14 Hong Kong democracy campaigners found guilty of subversion

A Hong Kong court found 14 people guilty of subversion on Thursday in the biggest case against pro-democracy campaigners since China imposed a national security law to crush dissent.

The 14, along with 31 others who pleaded guilty, could face life in jail, with sentencing expected later this year.

Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests brought the finance hub to a standstill.

Authorities then charged 47 people from a wide cross-section of society with subversion, saying their political activities were aimed at bringing down the government.

Sixteen defendants — including activists, former lawmakers and district councillors — had pleaded not guilty.

Judge Andrew Chan on Thursday named the 14 defendants who were found guilty. Two former district councillors were found not guilty.

In a judgement released by the court, it said the 14 had planned to undermine "the power and authority of both the Government and Chief Executive".

"In our view... that would create a constitutional crisis for Hong Kong," it said.

Most of the defendants had been kept behind bars since they were first brought to court in March 2021.

The trial was held without a jury and the judges were chosen from a pool of jurists handpicked by Hong Kong's leader.

The 31 who pleaded guilty had done so hoping for lenient sentences.

Lawrence Lau, one of the defendants found not guilty, told reporters as he left the court to keep supporting the rest of the group.

"I hope that everyone will continue to (have) concern for our other friends in the case," he said.

  'Let them go home' 

Prosecutors said the 47...