Australia – Sky News, November 19, 2024
Australian man Gordon Ng has been sentenced in Hong Kong as one of 14 democracy activists convicted on charges of conspiring to commit subversion under a Chinese national security law.
Mr Ng was one of 47 campaigners arrested in January 2021 and charged with conspiring to commit subversion by a Hong Kong court under the law introduced by Beijing.
He and 13 others were found guilty in May, and two were acquitted, following an 118-day trial.
On Tuesday Mr Ng was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison.
It comes more than three years after police arrested the 47 members, known as the “Hong Kong 47”, in dawn raids at homes across the city.
They were charged over their involvement in unofficial primary elections held in July 2020 to maximise the democrats’ chances of winning a majority in an upcoming legislative council election.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong responded to the news of Mr Ng’s sentencing, saying the Australian government was “gravely concerned” for Mr Ng and the rest of the campaigners.
“This is a deeply difficult time for Mr Ng, his family and supporters. Our thoughts are with them following the sentencing,” she said in a statement.
