The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee speaks to the press on June 4, 2024. Photo: HK media Dotdotnews

The verdict on some defendants involved in the infamous "35-plus" political plot that aimed to subvert state power indicated the scale and severity of the criminal plan, highlighting that the risk to national security is real, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday, warning that “we cannot forget the pain once the wound has healed." 

The court’s reasoning for the verdict clearly demonstrated to the public that the ultimate goal of the plot was to destroy or overthrow the current political system and structure of the HKSAR established under the Basic Law’s “One Country, Two Systems” principle, Lee said. 

The individuals involved conspired to achieve this by securing a majority of seats in the Legislative Council (LegCo) through so-called primaries, and their aim was to force the HKSAR government to respond to political demands by indiscriminately vetoing the HKSAR government's budget and public expenditure proposals, thereby compelling the CE to dissolve the LegCo and eventually resign, Lee said. 

This would prevent the HKSAR government from formulating new policies or implementing existing ones for the welfare of the people of Hong Kong, significantly undermining the power and authority of the CE and the HKSAR government, which constituted serious interference, obstruction, and disruption of the HKSAR government institutions' lawful performance of their duties and functions, ultimately subverting state power, the CE noted. 

In total, 47 individuals were prosecuted in this case, and most of them had been convicted previously. Except for two people who were acquitted on Thursday due to insufficient evidence, the other 45 people have all been convicted .

“45 people were found guilty, indicating the scale and severity of the crime, and further highlighting that the risk to national security is real,” Lee said, emphasizing that the criminals might use deceptive names or disguises to carry out acts that endanger national security. 

The CE also noted that we must not become complacent and must always remain vigilant as the risks to national security can emerge suddenly. 

“We cannot ‘forget the pain once the wound has healed,’ nor can we allow the wound to be reopened. We must not let Hong Kong suffer again,” he said. 

The court's ruling emphasizes that under the Basic Law, the LegCo's constitutional responsibilities include reviewing the budget or other financial proposals, which should be assessed based on their merits and drawbacks, Lee noted.

These proposals can be approved or rejected, and suggestions for amendments can be made, all of which are part of the constitutional duty to ensure Hong Kong's interests are protected. However, if any LegCo member declares an intention to veto proposals regardless of its merits, they will be in violation of Article 73 of the Basic Law, which requires members to review each proposal based on its individual merits and drawbacks, he said.

A plea hearing for the case is scheduled on the morning of June 25, local media reports, citing the judiciary's website. The hearing is expected to last three days.

Global Times