The Hong Kong and Beijing governments have repeatedly denied the national security law is suppressing freedoms, arguing it has ended chaos and “restored stability” to the city.
Since the national security law came into effect in 2020, civil groups have disbanded, and independent media outlets have been shut down.
They are the first defendants to be acquitted in a national security law trial in Hong Kong.
But that strategy is in doubt after another local national security law enacted earlier this year curtailed access to reduced sentences for guilty pleas.
“It’s absolutely clear that the national security law reduced the independence and the autonomy of the judiciary.
Persons:
Hong Kong’s, Hong, Gwyneth Ho, Leung Kwok, ”, Lawrence Lau, Lee Yu, –, “, Joshua Wong, Benny Tai, Claudia Mo, Eric Lai, John Burns, Hong Kong
Organizations:
Hong Kong CNN, Beijing, British, Hong, Hong Kong’s Legislative, Georgetown Center, Asian Law, Communist Party, city’s, University of Hong
Locations:
Hong Kong, Hong, Beijing, Hong Kong’s, China, University of Hong Kong