A court/” title=”China's Kaisa Group Liquidation Hearing Delayed By Court”>Hong Kong court has handed down the first two sentences under the new national security law. The first individual received a 14-month prison sentence for wearing a T-shirt with a protest slogan, while the second person was given 10 months for writing pro-independence messages on bus seats.
The man who wore the protest T-shirt, Chu Kai-pong, pleaded guilty to carrying out seditious acts. Under the new law, colluding with external forces to engage in such activities can result in up to 10 years of imprisonment.
During Chu’s sentencing, Chief Magistrate Victor So emphasized that June 12 holds symbolic significance among protesters and that Chu’s actions were not minor. By using this date to encourage others to remember and revive ideas about the protest movement, he posed a significant risk to social order.
Chief Magistrate So also noted that Chu had previously been jailed for sedition earlier in the year but showed no signs of reform. He stated that Chu had planned to commit another crime shortly after his release from prison, indicating his unwillingness to change. However, due to Chu’s guilty plea, his prison term was reduced by one-third.
The prosecution accused Chu of attempting to incite hatred and contempt towards China’s fundamental system and Hong Kong’s constitutional order. They argued that his actions could potentially inspire others to use illegal means in an attempt to alter decisions made by authorities.
In a separate case on Thursday, another individual named Chung Man-kit pleaded guilty to three counts of sedition for writing statements promoting Hong Kong independence on bus seats. He received a 10-month prison sentence from Chief Magistrate So.
The 2019 protest movement posed one of the most significant challenges faced by the Hong Kong government since its return from British rule in 1997. Factors such as mass arrests, exile of democracy activists, COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, and Beijing’s imposition of an earlier security law in 2020 contributed to its decline.
Amnesty International’s China director Sarah Brooks criticized Chu’s conviction and sentencing over his choice of clothing as indicative of the oppressive nature of the new security law. She called on local authorities in Hong Kong to repeal this legislation due its vague wording and broad scope which instills fear among residents about potential future convictions under it.
