‘Draconian laws’ not the answer, ex-Hong Kong politician tells subversion trial

Ex-district councillor Ng Kin-wai issues warning during mitigation hearing for landmark subversion trial over 2020 unofficial election primary

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Ex-district councillor Ng Kin-wai has said he is not sorry for the offence despite pleading guilty, arguing he felt obliged to first fight for the people’s “reasonable demands”. Photo: Facebook

Published: 8:58pm, 27 Aug 2024

A detained opposition politician has warned that “draconian laws and harsh penalties” are no solution to Hong Kong’s deep-rooted problems, in an attempt to justify his role in what a court ruled to be a subversive plot against the government.

Ex-district councillor Ng Kin-wai told West Kowloon Court on Tuesday that he was not sorry for the offence despite pleading guilty, arguing he felt obliged to first fight for the people’s “reasonable demands” rather than observing the Beijing-decreed national security law.

“I am willing to bear responsibility for my actions, but I will not apologise for the beliefs and values I share with my voters. I cannot betray their trust in me,” the 28-year-old said in front of three High Court judges presiding over the trial.

Ng’s adamant stance is uncommon among the 45 opposition figures convicted of conspiracy to subvert state power, with many seeking reductions in their potentially substantial jail terms in the critical mitigation hearings that resumed after an adjournment of 1½ months due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

He is among 31 of the defendants who admitted to the charge for their involvement in an unofficial legislative primary election in July 2020.

The trio of judges, hand-picked by the chief executive to hear cases tried under the security law, also convicted 14 others after finding the primary formed an integral part of a scheme to paralyse the government and create a constitutional crisis by indiscriminately blocking its financial budgets.