Hong Kong starts its largest national-security trial
The crime of the 47 accused was to try to win an electoral majority
IS IT A threat to a country’s security if opposition politicians try hard to win at the ballot box? In Hong Kong it might be deemed so. On February 6th the trial began of 47 activists and former lawmakers. Their alleged crime was to stage an unofficial primary vote ahead of elections that were due to take place in September 2020. Their aim: to pick candidates capable of winning a majority in the legislature, despite a system rigged against them.
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This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Gunning for the HK47”
From the February 11th 2023 edition
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