Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal on Monday dismissed the appeal by 12 opposition activists seeking to overturn their convictions or have their sentences reduced, following the city’s largest national security trial to date.
The appellate court also upheld the acquittal of one of 47 defendants prosecuted in the high-profile case of conspiracy to subvert state power.
A heavy police presence was seen outside the West Kowloon Court on Monday morning, with around 100 officers stationed at the entrance and setting up a roadblock along the road adjacent to the building.
About 50 people were queuing outside the building, where barricades had been set up along the public and media queues and were heavily guarded.
Barrister Lawrence Lau Wai-chung, whose acquittal has been appealed by the government, arrived at the court at around 8.30am wearing a black suit and an orange tie. He was seen holding a copy of Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution by US Supreme Court associate justice Amy Coney Barrett.
The other activist acquitted in the trial, former district councillor Lee Yue-shun, did not face the prosecution’s appeal but also arrived at the court escorted by six officers.
Around 10 representatives from Western consulates general were also present to observe the announcement of the verdict.
