Two journalists from the now-shuttered Hong Kong media outlet Stand News have been found guilty of conspiracy to publish seditious materials, marking the city’s first such convictions since its return to Chinese control. The former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen and former acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam were arrested in December 2021. The court found that 11 articles published by Stand News were seditious, promoting illegal ideologies and inciting hatred against the government.
The guilty verdicts have sparked outrage from former British governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten, who called it a dark day for press freedom. Stand News, known for its coverage of the 2019 pro-democracy protests, was seen as a credible outlet but faced criticism from authorities. The outlet had to shut down after being raided and its staff arrested.
The use of sedition laws to target journalists has been criticized, with the Committee to Protect Journalists calling the ruling oppressive. Chung and Lam, who spent over 300 days in pre-trial custody, face up to two years in prison and hefty fines. They have the right to appeal.
In a separate case, one person was convicted and six others acquitted over an alleged plan to use explosives and firearms against police during a 2019 protest. This marked the first time the UN anti-terrorism ordinance was used in Hong Kong. The crackdown on dissenting voices in the city continues to raise concerns about the erosion of press freedom and civil liberties.
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