Four former Hong Kong lawmakers—Claudia Mo, Jeremy Tam, Kwok Ka-ki, and Gary Fan—were released on Tuesday after serving over four years in prison due to convictions under a Beijing-imposed national security law. They were part of a group of 47 activists arrested in 2021 for participating in an unofficial primary election aimed at selecting candidates for a future legislative election. This primary drew significant public participation, with 610,000 voters, but the official election was later postponed, citing public health concerns related to COVID-19.
The activists were accused of plotting to destabilize the Hong Kong government by winning a legislative majority and blocking government budgets, leading to potential constitutional crises. Their trials resulted in severe sentences, with only two of the original defendants acquitted. Mo, Tam, Kwok, and Fan pleaded guilty, receiving reduced sentences ranging from four years and two months to ten years.
As the first of the convicted activists to return home, they faced emotional reunions with their families after years of separation. Mo’s husband reported that she was in good spirits, though she chose to avoid interviews initially to adjust back to life outside prison. Fan expressed gratitude to the citizens of Hong Kong and the media for their support.
The legal actions against these activists are seen by critics as a crackdown on dissent following widespread anti-government protests in 2019, further eroding civil liberties in Hong Kong. Despite international criticism, the Beijing and Hong Kong governments maintain that the security law is crucial for the city’s stability. Fourteen convicted activists have appealed their sentences, with appeals for acquittals also in progress.
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