Nine Hong Kong opposition veterans were on Friday awaiting a court ruling for staging one of the biggest democracy protests to rock Hong Kong in 2019.
Among the nine are some of the most respected figures in the struggle for freedoms in the former British colony, often apostles of non-violence mobilized in vain for decades for the establishment of true universal suffrage.
They are the latest figures of the pro-democracy movement to be brought to justice, as China carries out a relentless crackdown after the huge protests of 2019.
Supporters, relatives, journalists and diplomats – representing the European Union, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Germany and France – are present at the hearing.
Among the defendants is lawyer Martin Lee, 82, who before handover in 1997 had been chosen by Beijing to draft the Basic Law which serves as a mini-constitution in the semi-autonomous region.
Also included are former opposition MP and lawyer Margaret Ng, 73, and media mogul Jimmy Lai, 73.
The latter two are in pre-trial detention amid separate prosecutions under the draconian national security law that Beijing imposed in June.
Others include figures from the Labor Party or the Civil Front for Human Rights (CHRF), a coalition that organized the biggest protests in 2019.
They are being prosecuted for having organized on August 18, 2019 one of the most important pro-democracy demonstrations recorded that year.
Organizers had reported 1.7 million protesters, nearly one in four Hong Kongers. This figure could not be verified independently.
Five of the defendants, who had previously pleaded guilty, presented their defense on Friday morning.
“There is no right as precious to Hong Kong people as freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly,” said lawyer Margaret Ng, who has defended herself.
She declared herself ready to stand up for people who “as a last resort had to collectively express their anguish and urge the government to react”.
His argument ended with a round of applause.
Judge Amanda Woodcock had said earlier that the rally seriously disrupted traffic and that it was peaceful could not be an excuse.
The court’s decision is expected Friday during the day.