Hong Kong 47: court dismisses appeals by 12 activists in national security trial

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Natalie Wong,Matthew Cheng,Edith Lin,Brian WongFebruary 23, 2026 at 02:31 AM

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Hong Kong's Court of Appeal dismissed appeals from 12 opposition activists convicted in the city's largest national security trial, known as the "Hong Kong 47" case, on Monday. The court upheld the acquittal of one of the 47 defendants charged with conspiracy to subvert state power. The government had appealed the acquittal of barrister Lawrence Lau Wai-chung. The high-profile case drew significant attention, with a heavy police presence and representatives from Western consulates general observing the verdict announcement at the West Kowloon Court. The defendants were initially arrested in 2021 for their involvement in an unofficial primary election aimed at selecting pro-democracy candidates.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States Supreme Court 30% Amy Coney Barrett 40% Lee Yue-shun 60% West Kowloon Court 60% Court of Appeal 70% Lawrence Lau Wai-chung 70% Hong Kong 90%

Keywords

national security 90% national security trial 80% hong kong 80% activists 70% court of appeal 70% appeals dismissed 70% subvert state power 60% convictions 60% acquittal 50% political prosecution 40%