Four Hong Kong lawmakers freed after years in prison under controversial law

In Hong Kong, four former lawmakers were freed from prison on Tuesday after serving over four years for their involvement in an unofficial primary election in 2020. These lawmakers, Claudia Mo, Jeremy Tam, Kwok Ka-ki, and Gary Fan, were part of a larger group of 47 activists arrested in 2021 under a Beijing-imposed national security law targeting pro-democracy efforts. Their arrests followed widespread anti-government protests in 2019 that called for greater democratic freedoms and accountability from the Hong Kong government. The 2020 primary election, although unofficial, attracted 610,000 voters and was seen as a way for pro-democracy candidates to challenge the establishment. However, the Hong Kong government postponed official legislative elections, citing health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors claimed the activists intended to paralyze the government and force the resignation of the city's leader by winning a legislative majority. In their verdict, judges stated that the defendants’ plans could have undermined government authority and resulted in a constitutional crisis. Following their convictions, which varied in length from four years and two months to ten years, some of the convicted activists, including legal scholar Benny Tai and former student leader Joshua Wong, were sentenced to significant prison terms. Despite the harsh sentences, it is noteworthy that only two out of the original 47 defendants were acquitted. The release of Mo, Tam, Kwok, and Fan marked a bittersweet reunion with their families after prolonged separation. Critics argue these convictions reflect the governmental strategy to stifle dissent and have highlighted the ongoing erosion of civil liberties promised by Beijing when Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997. The national security law, according to authorities, is portrayed as necessary for maintaining stability in the region, yet many view it as a tool to quash democratic movements and intimidate opposition. This tense political climate continues to raise concerns both locally and internationally regarding Hong Kong’s future governance and the genuine state of civil liberties in the region.