By Jessie Pang
HONG KONG (Reuters) -The primary Hong Kong activist to defend himself in particular person in a landmark nationwide safety trial towards 47 pro-democracy campaigners stated on Tuesday he had no regret over the alleged conspiracy.
Ng kin-wai, 28, was one in all 47 activists arrested and charged in 2021 with “conspiracy to commit subversion to subvert the state power” for collaborating in an unofficial ballot to pick candidates for a 2020 legislative council election.
“I will not apologise for the beliefs and values I share with my voters”, Ng informed the court docket, although he including that he would shoulder the duty for his actions.
The remark prompted one of many presiding judges, Alex Lee, to ask if Ng had “no remorse”.
In response Ng stated, “Correct,” and added, “As a politician, I expect myself to be responsible, to do my best, to stay till the last.”
Ng is among the many fifth batch of the 45 convicted defendants to make mitigation pleas for a lighter sentence.
The nationwide safety regulation Beijing imposed in 2020 specifies sentences for the offence starting from three years to life, relying on culpability.
The mitigation hearings started in June, after 14 of the 16 defendants who pleaded not responsible had been convicted in Might.
Choose Andrew Chan stated Ng can be entitled to a concession that will be “significantly less than others”, given his late plea and lack of regret.
“Today is a mitigation hearing,” Chan added. “Today is not an occasion for you to express your political view.”
Born in 1995 and brought up in Hong Kong after the city was handed over from Britain to China in 1997, Ng won a seat in the council of Yuen Long in 2019, a border district adjacent to China’s tech hub of Shenzhen.
He later won more than 20,500 votes in a pre-selection ballot for candidates to stand in Hong Kong’s legislative election, which was postponed.
“The rationale why I participated within the 35-plus primaries … I consider nobody desires to be dominated by a totalitarian regime,” Ng told the court.
“As a Hong Konger, I’ve a dream. I believe everybody ought to have, and deserve, a free, equal and inclusive society, and a democratic system that successfully safeguards human rights, the rule of regulation and justice.”
The defendants are accused of plotting to force the government to meet the 2019 protest demands, by threatening to indiscriminately veto the budget after securing a legislature majority with candidates chosen in the primary election.
Ng told the court that it woud have been “inconceivable” to enter the legislative council and indiscriminately veto the budget by relying solely on the 47 defendants, saying such a step “requires the mandate of the entire metropolis and the residents”.
Ng stated he was not conscious that it was unlawful to veto the funds till his arrest in January 2021.
The protesters’ calls for, similar to quick realisation of common suffrage, had been “reasonable, and have not been found illegal by any court,” Ng added.
He urged the court docket to contemplate that when the first election occurred, violent avenue clashes between protesters and police had lasted for a very long time.
Ng had not wished to see individuals getting injured, arrested, or sacrificing themselves due to political incidents, he added.
“I chose to participate in the 35-plus primary election because at least this means, although it is illegal, was peaceful, rational, and non-violent,” Ng stated.
