Overview

• Twelve pro-democracy activists began 10-day appeals on July 14 against subversion convictions tied to a 2020 unofficial primary election
• Prosecutors lodged a parallel government appeal seeking to overturn barrister Lawrence Lau’s acquittal from the original “47 democrats” case
• Former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong and Raymond Chan are among the appellants alongside Owen Chow, who received the harshest sentence
• Security was tightened at the West Kowloon Law Courts as foreign diplomats and rights groups condemned the trial for undermining freedoms
• Hong Kong and Beijing authorities assert the proceedings uphold legal integrity and are necessary for stability under the 2020 national security law