45 sentenced to up to 10 years in prison in Hong Kong national security case
Associated Press
Hong Kong Jails 45 Pro-Democracy Activists for Subversion
Above: Media staff report outside the West Kowloon Law Courts Building ahead of the sentencing of 45 people convicted of the offense of conspiracy to commit subversion on Nov. 19, 2024 in Hong Kong, China. Image copyright: Xiao Meilin/Contributor/VCG via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
The national security law was necessary to restore stability after violent protests threatened Hong Kong's order in 2019. Not only was the protest illegal but these defendants continued to defy the law thereafter. These sentences reflect proper legal consequences for attempting to paralyze the government through unconstitutional means and distorted facts.
Anti-China narrative
This demonstrates how Hong Kong's civil liberties and judicial independence have rapidly deteriorated, turning peaceful political participation into a crime punishable by lengthy imprisonment. The fight for Hong Kong's true history and civic freedoms will continue despite China's attempts to strip democracy from what should be a sovereign island.