Hong Kong starts hearing for 16 democrats in landmark national security case

FILE PHOTO: Pro-democracy activist Benny Tai walks to a prison van to head to court over the national security law charge, in the early morning, in Hong Kong

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's High Court kicked off a hearing against 16 democrats on Thursday ahead of verdicts in a landmark subversion trial that will be closely watched by diplomats, human rights and business groups in the global financial hub.

A verdict is expected this week.

(Reporting By Jessie Pang; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Himani Sarkar)