29 of 47 Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activists Plead Guilty

Supporters hold banners for the 47 involved in the primaries

The 47 pro-democracy activists, lawmakers and academics who were arrested in January 2021 for participating in a primary election to help determine who would be the strongest candidates to run in the Legislative Council elections (that were later rescinded). 

They were charged with subversion of state power by attempting to "seize the ruling power of Hong Kong", according to the liaison office in Western.

Tai, organiser of the primaries, pleads guilty

But in July 2020 when the primaries were held over a weekend, hundreds of thousands of people took part. And primary elections are legal according to Article 52 in the Basic Law. 

And before that in November 2019. the pro-democracy camp practically swept the district council elections, taking 17 of the 18 districts. For many of the voters, it was a referendum on how the Hong Kong government dealt with the anti-extradition protests.

The pro-democracy activists are being punished severely, charged with violating the national security law. If convicted the minimum sentence is 10 years, maximum life in prison.

So how do you plead when you legally did nothing wrong, but you know you won't win in court, and yet you want to spend as less time in prison as possible?

Of the 47, 29 have opted to plead guilty, which means the remaining 18 will go to trial.

Wong Ji-yuet pleads guilty for shorter jail time

One reason why they may have pleaded guilty is because going to trial is tiresome for the prisoner who has to go through a series of procedures designed to be humiliating and physically demanding. A former prisoner, Samuel Bickett has suggested it's easier to just keep your head down in jail to be able to survive another day.

He admires those who have decided to go to trial, which could last months, and at the same time has high regard for those who have chosen the path of less resistance and pleaded guilty.

PLEAD GUILTY:

Benny Tai Yiu-ting

Au Nok-hin

Andrew Chiu Ka-yin

Ben Chung Kam-lun

Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai

Fergus Leung Fong-wai

Andy Chui Chi-kin

Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit

Claudia Mo Man-chung

Frankie Fung Tat-chun

Nathan Lau Chak-fung

Joshua Wong Chi-fung

Jeremy Tam Man-ho

Kinda Li Ka-tat

Tam Tak-chi

Wu Chi-wai

Eddie Chu Hoi-dick

Sam Cheung Ho-sum

Prince Wong Ji-yuet

Andrew Wan Siu-kin

Kwok Ka-ki

Carol Ng Man-yee

Roy Tam Hoi-pong

Ventus Lau Wing-hong

Alvin Yeung Ngok-wai

Gary Fan Kwok-wai

Hendrick Lui Chi-hang

Lester Shum

Henry Wong Pak-yu

PLEAD NOT GUILTY:

Gordon Ng Ching-hang

Clarisse Yeung Suet-ying

Michael Pang Cheuk-kei

Kalvin Ho Kai-ming

Lawrence Lau Wai-chung

Helena Wong Pik-wan

Sze Tak-loy

Ng Kin-wai

Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam

Raymond Chan Chi-chuen

Owen Chow Ka-shing

Lam Cheuk-ting

Leung Kwok-hung

Mike Lam King-nam

Ricky Or Yiu-lam

Lee Yue-shun

Winnie Yu Wai-ming

Cheng Tat-tung