On May 30, a three-judge panel of the Court of First Instance convicted 14 defendants of conspiring to subvert state power in Hong Kong. An additional 31 defendants had already pleaded guilty, bringing the total number of offenders to 45 who will return to court on June 25 for sentencing.
The plotters orchestrated a deceptive \"primary\" poll with the aim of seizing control of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Their plan involved blocking all funding requests, including the budget, effectively halting government operations. The ultimate goal was to force the resignation of the HKSAR chief executive and trigger a constitutional crisis that would lead to a confrontation with China's central government.
Despite the dire consequences they envisioned for Hong Kong, the conspirators were emboldened by anti-China sentiments from external sources. Their efforts mirrored the failed attempts during the Hong Kong unrest of 2019 to undermine the \"One Country, Two Systems\" governance policy.
The national security law for Hong Kong, enacted shortly before their plot was uncovered, played a crucial role in preventing their scheme from succeeding. This legal framework ensured that the conspirators' attempts to sabotage Hong Kong's governance from within were thwarted, maintaining the region's stability and adherence to established policies.
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Subversion verdicts: Justice triumphs despite foreign threats
cgtn.com
