Unbowed, unbroken: Hong Kong activist defiant ‘till the last’ in face of possible life in prison for subversion

Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - A file photograph shows a statue representing justice, outside Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal. — Reuters pic

HONG KONG, Aug 27 — The first Hong Kong activist to defend himself in person in a landmark national security trial against 47 pro-democracy campaigners said on Tuesday he had no remorse over the alleged conspiracy.

Ng kin-wai, 28, was one of 47 activists arrested and charged in 2021 with “conspiracy to commit subversion to subvert the state power” for participating in an unofficial poll to select candidates for a 2020 legislative council election.

“I will not apologise for the beliefs and values I share with my voters”, Ng told the court, though he adding that he would shoulder the responsibility for his actions.

The comment prompted one of the presiding judges, Alex Lee, to ask if Ng had “no remorse”.

In response Ng said, “Correct,” and added, “As a politician, I expect myself to be responsible, to do my best, to stay till the last.”

Ng is among the fifth batch of the 45 convicted defendants to make mitigation pleas for a lighter sentence.

The national security law Beijing imposed in 2020 specifies sentences for the offence ranging from three years to life, depending on culpability.

The mitigation hearings began in June, after 14 of the 16 defendants who pleaded not guilty were convicted in May.

Judge Andrew Chan said Ng would be entitled to a concession that would be “significantly less than others”, given his late plea and lack of remorse.

“Today is a mitigation hearing,” Chan added. “Today is not an occasion for you to express your political view.”

Born in 1995 and brought up in Hong Kong after the city was handed over from Britain to China in 1997, Ng won a seat in the council of Yuen Long in 2019, a border district adjacent to China’s tech hub of Shenzhen.

He later won more than 20,500 votes in a pre-selection ballot for candidates to stand in Hong Kong’s legislative election, which was postponed.

“The reason why I participated in the 35-plus primaries ... I believe no one wants to be ruled by a totalitarian regime,” Ng told the court.

“As a Hong Konger, I have a dream. I think everyone should have, and deserve, a free, equal and inclusive society, and a democratic system that effectively safeguards human rights, the rule of law and justice.”

The defendants are accused of plotting to force the government to meet the 2019 protest demands, by threatening to indiscriminately veto the budget after securing a legislature majority with candidates chosen in the primary election.

Ng told the court that it would have been “impossible” to enter the legislative council and indiscriminately veto the budget by relying solely on the 47 defendants, saying such a step “requires the mandate of the whole city and the citizens”.

Ng said he was not aware that it was illegal to veto the budget until his arrest in January 2021.

The protesters’ demands, such as immediate realisation of universal suffrage, were “reasonable, and have not been found illegal by any court,” Ng added.

He urged the court to consider that when the primary election took place, violent street clashes between protesters and police had lasted for a long time.

Ng had not wished to see people getting injured, arrested, or sacrificing themselves because of political incidents, he added.

“I chose to participate in the 35-plus primary election because at least this means, although it is illegal, was peaceful, rational, and non-violent,” Ng said. — Reuters