Four former Hong Kong lawmakers convicted in a landmark subversion case involving 47 activists will be released as early as April 29, becoming the first batch of defendants to be freed following the city’s largest and longest-running national security trial, the Post has learned.
Gary Fan Kwok-wai, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam Man-ho and Claudia Mo Man-ching, each of whom was sentenced to four years and two months in prison last November, have been in custody on remand since March 2021.
Sources said on Tuesday that the four would be released “as early as April 29” and planned to “remain low-key and decline media interviews” upon their release.
Fan, 58, is serving his term in Shek Pik Prison, while his fellow lawmakers Kwok and Tam – aged 63 and 49, respectively – are in Stanley Prison. Mo, 68, is being held at the Lo Wu Correctional Institution.
They were among the 45 former politicians and activists convicted of and sentenced for conspiracy to subvert state power under the Beijing-decreed national security law for their involvement in an illegal legislative “primary” election in 2020.
The four, who pleaded guilty to the subversion charge and received the lightest jail term, are expected to be released on April 29 despite not being allowed to have their sentence cut by a third as set out in the city’s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.
