'No winners,' says Chris Tang over the 35+ subversion case

The security chief said offenders that endanger national security can never escape the long arm of the law, after 14 people were convicted for conspiracy to commit subversion on Thursday.

When asked whether the government would see the court's decision as a major victory, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung noted that there is “no winner out of this case” as it is a very sad story that some Hongkongers trying to conduct subversion and attempted to paralyze the government.

He added that it is good the authorities were able to stop the vicious plot and prevent the citizens from suffering and allow the city to resume to a normal stage.

As for the acquitted duo in the case, Tang said the Department of Justice has already mentioned the intent to appeal against the decision. 

He noted that he is proud of the judicial officers and the enforcement officers for doing their job faithfully amid the intimidation and the so-called sanctions proposed by the external forces.

“I think they are the pride of Hong Kong,” he said.

Tang also confirmed that a number of activists were arrested outside the court for attempting to stage a protest and engaging in disorderly conduct. 

It was learned that Chan Po-ying, the wife of one of the defendants Leung Kwok-hung, was among the four males and a female being arrested.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the verdict showed that the court “confirmed the occurrence of the offense of conspiracy to commit subversion, which aimed at undermining, destroying or overthrowing the existing political system and structure of the HKSAR established under the Basic Law and the 'one country, two systems' principle.”

A government spokesman said the external forces blatantly smeared the Judiciary, the Department of Justice and the law enforcement department, and even created pressure through intimidatory political means and misleading remarks, in an attempt to interfere with the fair trial.

“This flagrant trample on the rule of law is a despicable attempt, which the HKSAR Government strongly condemns."

Separately, Beijing voiced its support for the SAR's law enforcement and judicial authorities in carrying out their duties and responsibilities to punish all kinds of acts that endanger national security.

"No one can engage in unlawful activities in the name of democracy and then try to escape the sanction of the law," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning said Thursday.

The ministry also noted that it resolutely opposes any interference in China's internal affairs by individual countries and attempts to discredit and undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong.

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