Australia 'gravely concerned' for activist's sentencing

Australia has expressed grave concern about the sentencing of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong.

Australian Gordon Ng was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison under a broad-brush national security law criticised as being installed by China to suppress dissent.

Ng was one of dozens of activists that comprised the group NSL47 charged with subversion under the law.

"The Australian government is gravely concerned by the sentence handed down in Hong Kong for Australian citizen Mr Gordon Ng and other members of the NSL47," Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement.

"This is a deeply difficult time for Mr Ng, his family and supporters. Our thoughts are with them following the sentencing."

Australia has made diplomatic representations and sought consular access.

Ng was arrested in January 2021 and convicted under the national security law in May 2024 for organising and participating in an election primary in Hong Kong.

"Australia has expressed our strong objections to the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on the continuing broad application of national security legislation, including in application to Australian citizens," Senator Wong said.

She called for the repeal of the national security law and "for China to cease suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, media and civil society".

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham added his voice to the condemnation, saying the sentencing of pro-democracy advocates "is appalling and unacceptable".

The sentence was "another stark reminder of the Chinese government's continued attacks on freedoms and rights in Hong Kong".

A nearly $200,000 bounty remains on the heads of Australian citizen Kevin Yam and former Hong Kong politician Ted Hui who lives in exile in Australia.