A Hong Kong court on Feb. 23 upheld the prison sentences and convictions of 12 pro-democracy activists, rejecting their appeals in a national security case that has drawn international attention as freedoms in the city continue to erode.
The appeal stems from the high-profile “Hong Kong 47” case, in which 47 opposition figures were arrested in 2021 and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion. After lengthy court proceedings, 45 of those activists were sentenced to between four and 10 years in November 2024, and two others were acquitted. The case drew international criticism from rights groups and from some countries, including the United States, the UK, and Canada.
