Thinking About China
Opinion

Hongkongers Pleading Guilty Is a Sign They’re Under Beijing’s Control

Hongkongers Pleading Guilty Is a Sign They’re Under Beijing’s Control
Protesters march on Hong Kong streets with a sign that reads 'Resist Tyranny' during a pro-democracy rally on July 1, 2019. Yu Gang/The Epoch Times
Peter Dahlin
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Commentary

It’s noteworthy that many Hongkongers charged with national security crimes, including pro-democracy protesters, are pleading guilty. On occasion, such news is met with derision. Some do not realize that it is yet another sign of the sinicization of Hong Kong’s legal system—particularly Beijing’s implementation of the national security law in the city.

Peter Dahlin
Peter Dahlin
Author
Peter Dahlin is the founder of the NGO Safeguard Defenders and the co-founder of the Beijing-based Chinese NGO China Action (2007–2016). He is the author of “Trial By Media,” and contributor to “The People’s Republic of the Disappeared.” He lived in Beijing from 2007, until detained and placed in a secret jail in 2016, subsequently deported and banned. Prior to living in China, he worked for the Swedish government with gender equality issues, and now lives in Madrid, Spain.
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