Hong Kong sentences 45 activists to prison for defying 2020 security law

Matthew Miller (spokesperson)spokesperson

These harsh sentences erode confidence in Hong Kong's judicial system and harm the city's international reputation,

said spokesperson Matthew Miller on Tuesday

These politically motivated prosecutions are occurring at the same time that dozens of U.S. CEOs are being wined and dined by Hong Kong officials and urged to invest in Hong Kong,

the lawmakers said

Different people may have different judgments about whether the sentencing is appropriate. But I think the important point is the rule of law,

he said in a news briefing

None of the 45 people sentenced have committed an internationally recognized crime; they have been jailed only for exercising their human rights,

she said

We will continue to engage with the Chinese authorities as we have done in the past,

he said

The sentencing of 45 of the 47 Hong Kong democrats is not only an affront to the people of Hong Kong, but those who value rights and freedoms around the world,

Patten said

Today’s sentencing is a clear demonstration of the Hong Kong authorities’ use of the NSL to criminalise political dissent. Those sentenced today were exercising their right to freedom of speech, of assembly and of political participation.”

Catherine West, the UK’s minister for the Indo-Pacific, said

The real outrage is their conviction in the first place,

Lord Sumption said

Prove to the world at every possible moment, no matter how small, that democracy is worth fighting for,

she said

Running in an election and trying to win it is now a crime that can lead to a decade in prison in Hong Kong,

Wang said

This is an unjust imprisonment. They shouldn’t be kept in jail for one day,

said Chan, the chair of the League of Social Democrats – one of the city’s remaining pro-democracy parties

We call on [Beijing] and Hong Kong authorities to cease politically motivated prosecutions of Hong Kong citizens and to immediately release all political prisoners and individuals jailed for their peaceful advocacy for rights and freedoms,

the statement read

I’ve known [Tai] for over 20 years, and the thought of him going in for 10 years is heavy,

Yam said

We dared to confront the regime with the question: Will democracy ever be possible within such a structure? The answer was a complete crackdown on all fronts of society,

she wrote

We condemn the Hong Kong government for launching an all-out assault—an accumulated total of 2,936 months behind bars for 45 Hong Kongers—against Hong Kong's decades of pro-democracy progress,

Anna Kwok, executive director of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The righteous will live a long life, and the wicked will perish."

Video shows the adoptive mother of activist Hendrick Lui, who received a 51-month sentence, being detained and loaded onto a police van after displaying a sign that read

Such actions are a serious desecration of and trampling on the spirit of the rule of law,

Lin said

No one can engage in illegal activities under the guise of democracy and attempt to evade legal punishment,

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at Tuesday's routine press briefing in response to the sentencing of 45 separatist activists in the Hong Kong case of conspiracy to subvert state power

The central government firmly supports HKSAR in safeguarding national security,

Lin said

Taiwan is a province of China; what your asked is not a diplomatic issue."

When asked about opposition from China's Taiwan region regarding the sentencing of the 45 secessionists, Lin stated