Hong Kong pro-democracy news outlet Stand News and its two former chief editors were found guilty of sedition on Thursday, the first convictions of their kind since the city came under Chinese rule in 1997.
The decision is part of a crackdown on free speech in the former British colony, which has seen China critics jailed or forced into exile following massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Editors Chung Pui-kuen, 54, and Patrick Lam, 36, are the first journalists to be convicted of treason since Britain handed over Hong Kong to China in 1997, and the verdicts drew strong international condemnation.
Chung and Lam were in charge of Stand News, a Chinese-language website that gained massive popularity during the protests in 2019 before it was raided and shut down in December 2021.
On Thursday, District Court Judge Kwok Wai-kin said the two were found guilty of “conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious publications”. Stand News’ parent company Best Pencil Ltd was also found guilty.
“The line taken by Stand News was to support and promote Hong Kong’s local autonomy,” according to the verdict written by Kwok.
“It also became a means to discredit and defame the central authorities (Beijing) and the (Hong Kong) SAR government.”
Kwok also pointed to 11 articles published by Stand News that were “potentially likely to harm national security” and aimed at “severely undermining” the authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong.
Lam was absent from court on Thursday due to illness.
The judge granted bail to both of them ahead of sentencing on September 26.
Colonial-era legislation
Chung and Lam were charged under a colonial-era law that carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison for treason.
A recent security law enacted in March increases the prison term for treason to seven years.
In response to the verdict, the European Union called on Hong Kong to “stop prosecuting journalists”.
“This decision threatens to hinder the pluralistic exchange of ideas and the free flow of information, which are both cornerstones of Hong Kong’s economic success,” an EU spokesperson said.
Speaking outside court, police Chief Superintendent Steve Lee said the ruling “clearly demonstrates the necessity and lawfulness” of the enforcement actions against Stand News in 2021.
Asked if the decision would further impact press freedom, Lee said it would “really help”.
“This will let everyone know what types of problems could lead to a risk of violating the law,” he said.
not treasonous
But Beh Lih Yee, of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the decision showed Hong Kong was “moving more and more towards authoritarianism”.
He said, “Journalism is not treasonous.”
Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International’s China director, called the decision “another nail in the coffin of press freedom in Hong Kong”.
Hong Kong’s position in global press freedom rankings has declined sharply in recent years.
Chung had testified that the outlet was a platform for free expression and defended his decision to publish articles critical of the government.
But prosecutors accused him of bringing “hatred or contempt” toward the Chinese and Hong Kong governments.
More than 100 people, including supporters and media persons, queued up on Thursday morning to get a place in the public gallery.
The decision was also attended by representatives from various consulates – including those from the United States, Britain, France, the European Union and Australia.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
