47 Hong Kong opposition figures charged under national security law
Source: CNN
Hong Kong(CNN)The Hong Kong authorities charged 47 opposition activists with violating the city's national security legislation on Sunday, in the biggest application of the law since it was imposed by Beijing last year.
If found guilty of "conspiracy to commit subversion" they could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Those charged were among 53 people -- many prominent former lawmakers, activists and district councilors -- who were arrested last month for organizing, planning and participating in a primary election for the city's democratic opposition last July.
That event was designed to identify the strongest pro-democracy candidates to field in legislative council elections planned for last September, when the opposition camp hoped to win an historic majority.
Read more: https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/02/28/asia/hong-kong-lawmakers-charged-nsl-intl-hnk/index.html