Marathon Hong Kong Security Law Hearing Slammed as ‘Farce’
- Jailed activists hospitalized during four days of proceedings
- Legal experts say case hurts city’s reputation for fair courts
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Dozens of Hong Kong opposition figures spent four days in court this week only to learn they’ll be jailed for months ahead of their trials on national security charges. But the unusually long arraignment may have already done lasting damage to the justice system’s reputation.
The 47 defendants -- including prominent activists Joshua Wong, Benny Tai, Jimmy Sham and numerous past and current lawmakers -- were in and out of court from Monday to Thursday. Sessions stretched late into the night, prompting some defendants to seek hospital care and causing foreign observers to wonder whether the conditions made it harder to mount a sufficient defense and provided possible grounds for appeal.