Overview
- The Court of Appeal dismissed all 12 appeals, rejecting 11 conviction challenges and every sentence appeal arising from the 2024 verdicts.
- Judges affirmed barrister Lawrence Lau’s acquittal; the government said it will study the judgment and consider whether to seek a further appeal.
- In a written ruling, the panel called the primary a “constitutional mass destruction weapon” attributed to Benny Tai and said indiscriminate budget vetoes would abuse legislative power.
- Appellants included former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Raymond Chan and Helena Wong, as well as activists Gwyneth Ho, Owen Chow and Australian citizen Gordon Ng.
- Rights groups and several foreign governments criticized the outcome, with Amnesty calling it a mass injustice and Australia expressing concern over Ng, while about 18 other defendants have already completed sentences.