Starry Lee Backs Court Ruling in Alliance Case
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Legislative Council President Starry Lee Wai-king said she firmly supports the court’s ruling in the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China subversion case, describing the judgment as a lawful decision grounded in legal principles and objective evidence . She said the ruling clearly drew a boundary between safeguarding national security and exercising lawful rights, and demonstrated the rigor and fairness of Hong Kong’s judicial system . According to Lee, the court reviewed years of public statements, rally speeches, media interviews and publicity materials during more than 20 days of open hearings . Three defendants were convicted after a 22-day trial, while another defendant, Albert Ho Chun-yan, had already pleaded guilty before the formal opening of the case; mitigation is scheduled for Friday, August 28 .
Key Points
- Lee said the judgment comprehensively examined legal principles and objective evidence in the Hong Kong Alliance incitement to subvert state power case .
- She said the court made clear that criminal adjudication was based on law and facts, not any particular political viewpoint .
- Lee highlighted the judge’s emphasis on the criminal standard of proof, saying the case applied the requirement of beyond reasonable doubt .
- She cited the ruling as saying the organization’s political platform sought to undermine and overturn the constitutional foundation established under the Constitution .
- Defendants Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung had denied incitement to subvert state power, but three defendants were convicted after 22 trial days .
Why It Matters
The case has become part of the wider debate in Hong Kong over how national security enforcement is balanced against civil liberties and political expression . Lee framed the ruling as evidence that the executive, legislature and judiciary are each performing their roles under the law to protect stability, the rule of law and the long-term implementation of “one country, two systems” .