By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret

HONG KONG (Reuters) -An appeal hearing for 12 pro-democracy activists convicted of subversion under Hong Kong’s national security law ended earlier than expected on Thursday, with two defence lawyers arguing that their clients had not received a fair trial.

The appeal stems from the “47 democrats” case, named for the number of activists who were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion in 2021.

45 of the defendants were jailed last year for holding an unofficial primary election in July 2020, soon after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in response to pro-democracy protests the year before.

Their sentences ranged between four to 10 years. Two were acquitted, while 12 appealed the conviction on July 14.

Judge Jeremy Poon

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