Hong Kong protesters come out as 47 pro-democracy figures appear in court

Hong Kong (CNN)Hundreds of protesters risked arrest to demonstrate outside a Hong Kong court, where 47 pro-democracy activists appeared Monday charged with subversion under the national security law, as authorities step up their crackdown against opposition voices.

The protest was the largest seen in the city for months, with those gathered chanting the banned slogan, "Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our time!" and carrying placards demanding the release of those rounded up under the sweeping legislation.

Prosecutors had argued in court that the defendants were involved in a "massive and well-organized scheme to subvert the Hong Kong government" by organizing and participating in an unofficial primary election last July. Such contests are a normal function in democracies around the world, during which political parties select the strongest candidates for an election.

The legislative elections were supposed to be held in September but were eventually postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Alan Leong, a lawyer and politician representing four of the defendants, said the charges filed on Sunday would be remembered as a "challenge on Hong Kong's fair electoral system" and criticized prosecutors for bringing charges without sufficient evidence.

"It is not just the 47 defendants who are just facing charges here today, but also the Hong Kong judicial system and the spirit of rule of law," Leong said.

Former law professor Benny Tai, left, arrives to court in a police van on Monday.

The 39 men and eight women were aged between 23 and 64, and included prominent activist Joshua Wong and law professor Benny Tai. They appeared in court Monday after being asked to report to police the day prior. Under their previous bail agreements, they weren't required to check in with police until early April.

Court proceedings lasted until the early hours of Tuesday. Four defendants were sent to the hospital after the marathon hearing, which prompted the magistrate to adjourn the case for several hours.

Hundreds of demonstrators came out to support those being held, despite public health measures that ban gatherings of more than four people and the government's increasing crackdown on political protest.

A large police presence outside the courthouse in the city's West Kowloon district attempted to disperse the crowds, warning that those gathered could also be violating the national security law. Demonstrators peacefully left the area by the evening.

Police said they arrested a 34-year-old man who refused to show his credentials when attempting to enter the courthouse. The man, who is surnamed Yao, is a lawyer representing some of the defendants, according to his law firm, Bond Ng Solicitors.

Inside the courthouse, all seats in the public gallery were filled, mostly by people dressed in all black in support for the pro-democracy movement. By the afternoon, police could be seen cordoning off sidewalks near the court to prevent more people from gathering.

Supporters wait outside West Kowloon court in Hong Kong on March 1, 2021.

The charges against the 47 activists mark a sweeping escalation in the application of the national security law, under which previously only a handful of people had been charged and taken to court.

Hong Kong authorities have accused the 47 of conspiring to use the primary to win a majority in the legislature and paralyze the government, potentially forcing the city's leader to resign. That strategy that would be entirely legal -- and not out of the ordinary -- in parliamentary systems like the United Kingdom and Australia.

The national security law criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign powers, and carries with it a maximum sentence of life in prison. Cases under the legislation are handled by a dedicated branch of the Hong Kong police and judges assigned to hear national security cases.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and others had previously promised the law would be limited in effect, and only target a small number of fringe activists.

Pro-democracy activists gesture as they line up outside the West Kowloon court in support of the arrested activists.

The charges come less than a week after the Hong Kong government moved to introduce new requirements for public officials, including that they swear loyalty oaths and embrace Beijing's rule over the city.

Anyone who fails to take the oath -- or is deemed to have done so in an insincere fashion -- would be immediately disqualified from office and banned from running in elections for the next five years, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang said.

It came after Hong Kong's sole delegate to China's top legislative body said that only "staunch patriots" should be allowed to hold positions of authority in Hong Kong.

CNN's Jadyn Sham, Helen Regan and James Griffiths contributed reporting