Beijing voices support for jailing of 45 Hong Kong opposition activists

The central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong has voiced its “firm support” for the jailing of 45 opposition figures for trying to overthrow the government and has condemned the US and other countries for “attacks” against the city’s judicial system.

The comments came two days after a court sentenced the opposition figures for conspiring to subvert state power through a “primary” election held four years ago in the aftermath of anti-government protests.

The sentences ranged from four years and two months to 10 years, with former University of Hong Kong legal scholar Benny Tai Yiu-ting, 60, deemed the mastermind behind the scheme and receiving the heaviest sentence.

An office spokesman said the criminals, led by Tai, conspired under the guise of democracy to gain a majority in the Legislative Council through the primary election. Their aim was to indiscriminately veto the government’s budget, forcing the chief executive to dissolve the council and eventually resign, thereby paralysing the government.

The spokesman said such crimes were intolerable in any country or region and must be severely punished with deterrent sentences.

He said that during the trial, external forces led by the United States, openly attacked and smeared the judiciary, the Department of Justice and law enforcement agencies, attempting to interfere with the court’s independent judgment and influence the verdict.