Benny Tai, Joshua Wong among 27 to be sentenced in subversion case

Twenty-seven activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion over the 2020 Legislative Council elections - including Benny Tai Yiu-ting and Joshua Wong Chi-fung - will be sentenced by the High Court.

And 20 others will face trial by a national security judge.

The case of the 47 was mentioned in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts yesterday before national security judge Peter Law Tak-chuen.

Law ordered the transfer of 27 defendants to the High Court for sentence. Among them are 57-year-old Occupy Central cofounder Tai and 25-year-old former student activist Joshua Wong. The others include Au Nok-hin, 34; Andrew Chiu Ka-yin, 36; Ben Chung Kam-lun, 33; Fergus Leung Fong-wai, 25; Andy Chui Chi-kin, 55; Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, 34; Claudia Mo Man-ching, 65; Frankie Fung Tat-chun, 26; Nathan Lau Chak-fung, 25; Jeremy Jansen Tam Man-ho, 46; and Kinda Li Ka-tat, 31.

Others are Tam Tak-chi, 49; Wu Chi-wai, 59; Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, 44; Sam Cheung Ho-sum, 28; Wong Ji-yuet, 24; Andrew Wan Siu-kin, 52; Kwok Ka-ki, 60; Roy Tam Hoi-pong, 42; Ventus Lau Wing-hong, 28; Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, 41; Gary Fan Kwok-wai, 55; Hendick Lui Chi-hang, 40; Lester Shum Ngo-fai, 28; and Henry Wong Pak-yu, 31.

Wong Ji-yuet and Hendick Lui are out on bail, while the rest remain in custody.

Law ordered the transfer of 17 defendants to the High Court for trial on Wednesday.

They are Cheng Tat-hung, 33; Clarisse Yeung Suet-ying, 35; Michael Pang Cheuk-kei, 27; Kalvin Ho Kai-ming, 33; Lawrence Lau Wai-chung, 54; Helena Wong Pik-wan, 63; Sze Tak-loy, 39; Ng Kin-wai, 26; Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam, 31; Raymond Chan Chi-chuen, 50; Owen Chow Ka-shing, 25; Lam Cheuk-ting, 44; Leung Kwok-hung, 66; Mike Lam King-nam, 33; Ricky Or Yiu-lam, 51; Lee Yue-shun, 28; and Winnie Yu Wai-ming, 35.

Ng, Gwyneth Ho, Chow, Lam Cheuk-ting, Leung and Yu were remanded in custody while the rest are on bail.

Law has yet to transfer three defendants to the High Court: former district councillor Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai, 28; former chairwoman of the defunct Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions Carol Ng Man-yee, 51; and activist Gordon Ng Ching-hang.

The 47 politicians and activists have been accused of conspiracy to subvert state powers by planning to abuse the lawmakers' power after being elected.

The defendants allegedly planned to secure more than half of the Legco seats so they could reject all budget and financial proposals introduced by the government, regardless of the content.

They were also accused of planning to force Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to dissolve Legco to paralyze the government and force her to resign.

To achieve the goal, the 47 defendants allegedly ran or incited others to run in the Legco election.