Editor of Hong Kong media ‘Stand Information’ jailed for sedition

Chung Pui-kuen, former editor-in-chief of Hong Kong’s now-closed pro-democracy information outlet Stand Information, arrives at a district court docket forward of the ultimate sentencing of the sedition case in Hong Kong on September 26, 2024. | Photograph credit score: AP

Hong Kong decide jails former editor-in-chief of pro-democracy media Sales space Information for sedition on Thursday, imposing a 21-month jail sentence within the landmark case.

Chung Pui-kuen’s sentencing is the newest crackdown on free speech within the former British colony that has seen critics of China jailed or compelled into exile after big pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Chung, 55, and editor-in-chief Patrick Lam, 36, have been in command of Sales space Informationa Chinese language-language web site that gained a big following throughout the protests earlier than it was raided and shut down in December 2021.

District Courtroom Decide Kwok Wai-kin discovered the couple responsible final month of “conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious publications.” Sales space InformationThe mum or dad firm, Finest Pencil Restricted, was additionally discovered responsible.

Chung’s 21-month sentence makes him the primary journalist jailed for sedition since Hong Kong got here underneath Chinese language rule in 1997.

Lam obtained a diminished sentence and won’t return to jail on account of time already served, with Decide Kwok saying a jail sentence “might endanger his life” on account of severe well being issues.

The decide stated the 2 defendants, in addition to the publication, “weren’t doing real journalistic work.”

“They participated within the so-called resistance. They took the facet of the protesters to oppose the federal government,” he stated.

“Sales space Information had 1.6 million followers and these seditious articles will need to have brought about fairly severe injury, though I couldn’t quantify it,” Decide Kwok stated, including that jail was the one choice.

Swift condemnation adopted from the European Union, the United Nations and the US consulate in Hong Kong, which referred to as on the federal government to cease attacking journalists.

“The Hong Kong court docket’s ruling… is a direct assault on press freedom,” a US consulate spokesperson stated. AFP.

The European Union referred to as on the federal government to “restore confidence in press freedom in Hong Kong”, whereas the United Nations human rights workplace stated colonial-era sedition provisions needs to be repealed.

The Hong Kong authorities stated in an announcement that the crimes concerned have been “very severe” and that issues about press freedom have been makes an attempt to “defame” town.

Worldwide criticism

Protection legal professional Audrey Eu had requested for leniency for Lam as a result of he suffered from a “very uncommon and sophisticated” immune illness that left him with “lower than 30%” kidney perform.

“Our greatest concern is that if (Lam) has to return to jail, in case one thing occurs there… that might put her life at risk,” Eu advised the court docket.

Chung and Lam had spent virtually a yr behind bars earlier than being granted bail on the time of their trial.

Thursday’s listening to was delayed two hours and Lam left the court docket constructing together with his spouse after darkish with out making any public feedback.

Amnesty Worldwide’s China director Sarah Brooks stated Thursday’s ruling “seems designed to bolster a ‘chilling impact’ that deters others within the metropolis – and past – from criticizing the authorities.” “It is a authorities based mostly on concern,” Brooks stated.

The duo have been charged underneath a colonial-era legislation that punishes sedition with a most jail sentence of two years.

A safety legislation enacted in March elevated that interval to seven years.

the conviction of New StandIn August, Hong Kong editors sparked a swift world outcry, together with from the European Union, which referred to as on Hong Kong to “cease prosecuting journalists.”

Chinese language authorities in Hong Kong rejected the criticism and stated Sales space Information it was “a political group from starting to finish.”

The Chinese language monetary middle has seen its place in world press freedom rankings decline lately.