By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s High Court on Tuesday sentenced 45 leading democrats to jail terms of up to 10 years in what critics say is a major blow to the financial hub’s rule of law.
The following are comments on this landmark ruling:
REPUBLICAN CHRIS SMITH, CHAIRMAN OF THE U.S. CONGRESSIONAL-EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON CHINA (CECC)
“The Hong Kong government is seeking U.S. investments in the very same week that it brutally silences free speech and jails pro-democracy advocates. The Chinese Communist Party is asking U.S. financial institutions to subsidize their repression in Hong Kong.
“Instead of investment, the Biden Administration must sanction the judges, police, and prosecutors engaged in the political prosecutions of the HK 47 (democrats) and Jimmy Lai.”
PENNY WONG, FOREIGN MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA
“The Australian Government is gravely concerned by the sentence handed down in Hong Kong for Australian citizen Mr Gordon Ng and other members of the NSL47.
“Australia has expressed our strong objections to the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on the continuing broad application of national security legislation, including in application to Australian citizens.
“We call for China to cease suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, media and civil society, consistent with the Human Rights Committee and Special Procedure recommendations, including the repeal of the National Security Law in Hong Kong.”
THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCE ON CHINA (IPAC), A GROUP OF INTERNATIONAL LAWMAKERS ENGAGED IN ISSUES ON CHINA.
“(IPAC) denounce their convictions as a travesty of justice. These 45 men and women are suffering political persecution for organising a democratic primary election. This is clear evidence, if any more were needed, of the precipitous decline in the rule of law in Hong Kong. No credible system would countenance such ludicrously harsh sentences for people who merely wanted to vote.”
LEE YUE SHUN, 31, ONE OF THE TWO ACQUITTED DEMOCRATS:
“We should actively care to express our feelings, put forward our views, raise some questions or give some suggestions based on … the conclusion of this case. I think this is what everyone needs to do. Because as a member of society, these cases are not only about legal interests. In fact, everyone has a chance to be affected.”
SARAH BROOKS, CHINA DIRECTOR FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL:
“We have moved into an era where healthy civic debate, the space for public discourse,…
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