First batch of Hong Kong democrats freed after 4 years jail for subversion

HONG KONG – The first batch of individuals jailed in the landmark Hong Kong national security trial of “47 democrats” accused of conspiracy to commit subversion was freed on April 29 after being behind bars for over four years.

Four former pro-democracy lawmakers – Claudia Mo, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam and Gary Fan – were driven away from three separate prisons across Hong Kong around dawn.

Security was tight with patrols of police officers and access to some roads to the prisons restricted for hours beforehand.

The vehicles took the democrats directly to their homes, where they were chaperoned by scores of officers up to their front doors.

“I will go back home and reunite with my family. Thank you, Hongkongers,” Fan told local media outlet HK01 outside his building in the Tseung Kwan O district.

A Reuters reporter stationed at Mo’s home was told to leave by plainclothes officers and to delete photos if taken. There was no immediate comment from police.

Mo’s husband, Philip Bowring, later told a group of reporters that he was pleased to have her back home, adding that she’s “well and in good spirits”.

“She’s only just come back... She has to get used to life again in the outside world,” said Mr Bowring, a veteran reporter and writer.

“We’ll go to England at some point to see our grandchildren. But it’s probably not till July or something like that.”

A “Welcome Home Mum!” banner was seen hanging in the living room, according to the Ming Pao newspaper.

Since large and sustained pro-democracy protests erupted in Hong Kong for most of 2019, China has cracked down on the democratic opposition as well as on liberal civil society and media outlets under sweeping national security laws.

The 47 pro-democracy campaigners were arrested and charged in