• Published: May 30 2025 06:12 PM
  • Last Updated: May 30 2025 06:13 PM

Four of the 'Hong Kong 47' activists released after over four years in jail under national security law. A key moment in the ongoing case.


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Four of the people who were part of the "Hong Kong 47" group just got out of prison and their names are Claudia Mo, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam, and Gary Fan. They had been behind bars for more than four years, mostly because they took part in an unofficial primary election back in 2020. The authorities said they were trying to subvert the government by doing that, and they got arrested under the National Security Law.

Now they’re free, and honestly, it’s a big moment, even if it’s just four people. The whole case has been super controversial. A lot of people around the world have called the charges political and say this law is being used to silence voices that don’t agree with the government.

Background on the “Hong Kong 47” Case

The “Hong Kong 47” were a group of democracy activists, politicians, and even some scholars who got charged with subversion. Basically, they were accused of trying to take control of Hong Kong’s legislature in a way that the government didn’t like.

They weren’t doing anything violent or crazy. They just held their own primary election to pick the strongest candidates to represent the pro-democracy camp. But under the National Security Law, that was seen as a threat. Out of the 47 people charged, most pleaded guilty. Fourteen of them went to trial and were found guilty too.

How the World Is Reacting to All This

A bunch of countries and human rights groups have been calling out the Hong Kong government—and honestly, China too—over how they’ve handled this. They’ve said the law is just too harsh and vague. And that it’s being used more to shut people up than to keep things safe.

Places like the U.S., UK, and European Union have all spoken up. They’re worried Hong Kong is losing its freedoms and becoming more like mainland China when it comes to how it treats political opinions. The Hong Kong government, on the other hand, says they’re just protecting the city and trying to keep things under control.

FAQ

They're a group of activists, lawmakers, and others who were part of the pro-democracy movement. They were arrested for organizing an unofficial primary election in 2020.

The government charged them under the National Security Law, saying their actions were part of a plan to subvert the state by trying to win a majority in the legislature.

It’s a law that came into effect in 2020. It covers things like secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign forces—but critics say it’s being used to punish peaceful political acts.

This case has become a symbol of how political freedoms in Hong Kong have changed. The release of the four activists doesn’t end the story, but it’s a notable shift.

That’s hard to say. Some of the “Hong Kong 47” are still serving long sentences. The international community is still watching closely, but it’s unclear what real change that pressure will bring.

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