First condemnations for 2019 anti-government protests in Hong Kong. Nine democracy supporters were convicted of organizing and participating in an illegal assembly during the mass protests that rocked the former British colony. These are the first effects of the National Security Law which provides for very severe penalties for those who endanger national security. Activists include media mogul and founder of Apple Daily tabloid Jimmy Lai and 82-year-old Martin Lee, a veteran of the city’s democracy movement.
The roadmap
The condemnations come as Hong Kong tries to implement the reform of the electoral law passed by the National People’s Congress on 11 March.
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The government led by Carrie Lam, which seeks to revive the fortunes of the severely compromised local economy, will present a draft plan for the revision of the electoral system of the Special Administrative Region by mid-April, to be reviewed and approved by May.
If the schedule goes as planned, elections will be held in September and the new members of the Legislative Council will meet in December. The election of the chief executive will be held in March next year. Elections already postponed with respect to natural terms due to the pandemic, at least formally.
Carrie Lam’s term will expire in June 2022 with the possibility for her to be eligible for a second term. The electoral turning point is destined to weigh on Hong Kong, coupled with the National security law.