Hong Kong authorities - to indict 47 pro-democracy activists for national security law violation

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

香港当局、民主派４７人を国安法違反で起訴

2021.03.01 Mon posted at 10:25 JST

香港（ＣＮＮ） 香港当局は２月２８日、民主派の活動家ら４７人を香港国家安全維持法（国安法）に違反したとして起訴した。中国政府による昨年の施行以降で最大規模の適用となった。

政権転覆の共同謀議に関与したとして有罪になれば、最高で終身刑を科される可能性がある。

民主派が２０２０年７月に実施した予備選にからんで、香港では著名な議員や活動家ら５３人が逮捕されていた。予備選は、２０２０年９月に予定されていた立法会（議会）選挙に向けた候補者選びだった。民主派は立法会選挙で過半数の獲得を目指していた。

選挙は最終的に新型コロナウイルスの流行のために延期となったが、予備選への参加は国安法違反となる可能性があるとの警告も出されていた。

起訴されたのは男性３９人、女性８人で年齢は２３～６４歳。３月１日に出廷する。

今回の起訴で国安法の適用が急速に拡大していることが示された。これまでは、国安法で起訴され出廷した人数は限られていた。

国安法は、独立や政権転覆、テロ、外国勢力との共謀などを犯罪とみなしている。香港の林鄭月娥（キャリー・ラム）行政長官らは以前、国安法の適用は限定され、少数の過激派だけを対象にすると語っていた。

 Translation

Hong Kong (CNN) -- On February 28, Hong Kong authorities charged 47 pro-democracy activists with violating the Hong Kong National Security Law (National Security Law). It was the largest enforcement of the law since last year's enactment by the Chinese government.

If convicted of being involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the government, one could be sentenced to life imprisonment at the most.

In Hong Kong, 53 prominent lawmakers and activists were arrested in connection with a preliminary election held by the pro-democratic activists in July 2020. The preliminary election aimed at selecting candidates for the Legislative Council election scheduled for September 2020. Democrats were aiming for winning a majority in this Legislative Council election.

The election was eventually postponed due to the new coronavirus pandemic, but warnings were also issued that participation in the primary could be a violation of national security law.

39 men and 8 women were indicted, aged 23-64 years. They would appear in court on March 1st.

The indictment showed that the application of the National Security Law was expanding rapidly. Until now, the number of people charged with the National Security Law violation and appeared in court was limited.

The National Security Law considered seeking independence, overthrowing the government, terrorism, and collusion with foreign powers as crimes. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and others had previously said that the application of the National Security Law would be limited and might only target at a small number of extremists.

              So, the political landscape in Hong Kong is changing fast. The influence of China over Hong Kong is getting more apparent.