Hong Kong: Two journalists charged with baseless ‘sedition’

(New York) Hongkong The government should drop the politically motivated convictions of two journalists and end its violations of press freedom, Human Rights Watch said today.

On August 29, 2024, the Hong Kong District Court convicted two editors of the defunct Stand News – former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen, 54, and former acting editor-in-chief Lam Wai-keung, 36 – and the newspaper’s parent company, Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Ltd, of “conspiracy to publish seditious material”. Chung Pui-kuen and Lam Wai-keung face up to two years in prison.

“The Hong Kong government is sending a terrible message to journalists that reporting on issues of public concern will land you in jail,” CryptocurrencyDeputy Director of the China Division at Human Rights Watch. “The Hong Kong and Chinese governments should immediately quash the convictions of Chung Shan and Lam and end their crackdown on press freedom.”

During the 57-day trial, prosecutors submitted 17 articles published by Stand News as evidence that the popular, award-winning outlet sought to “incite hatred against Hong Kong and the central government.” A district court judge, who is selected by the government to oversee national security cases, ruled that 11 of the articles were “inflammatory.” Police raids and arbitrary arrests of staff forced Stand News to shut down in December 2021.

A purportedly “inflammatory” article described former journalist Junius Ho’s participation in an informal primary for the 2020 Legislative Council election. The court later ruled the primary “illegal” and Ho Chi Ping and 44 other activists found guilty Pursuant to the National Security Law implemented by the Chinese government in Hong Kong in June 2020.

Other articles include commentaries by journalist Allan Au, who described the national security trials as “show trials” and the government’s use of the sedition law as “legal warfare,” as well as an opinion piece by exiled activist Sunny Cheung on being wanted by Hong Kong police.

The judge ruled that “taking into account the social unrest and unstable public sentiment at the time”, the articles were intended to “undermine the authority of the Hong Kong and Chinese governments” and “incite public hatred against the government”.

The court will sentence Wallace Chung and Carrie Lam on September 26. Carrie Lam did not attend the sentencing hearing due to health problems. According to local media reports.

Under the National Security Law, the Chinese and Hong Kong governments have taken Fast pace The Hong Kong government has increasingly abused an overbroad colonial-era sedition law to suppress peaceful speech. It has used the law to crack down on Children’s book authorscholars, people distributing Hong Kong independence leaflets, and those who applauded during the trials of pro-democracy activists.

In March this year, the Hong Kong government A stringent national security law was introduced The bill further expands its powers to curb dissent, with colonial-era sedition laws replaced by new legislation carrying penalties of up to seven years in prison.

Since 2020, the Chinese and Hong Kong governments have dismantled Hong Kong’s once thriving independent media, which for decades was often highly critical of the Chinese Communist Party. The Hong Kong government turned RTHK, a public broadcaster that previously had editorial independence, into a government propaganda arm.

Hong Kong police raided and seized Apple Daily, arrested its owner, executives and employees, and froze the company’s assets. At least seven news organizations have closed down in fear of a crackdown. The Hong Kong government has repeatedly harassed the Hong Kong Journalists Association, including suing its former head for “obstructing” reporting and Making claims that are clearly politically motivated The company had to pay back taxes of HK$400,000 (US$51,000).

Many governments and the United Nations Expressing concern Governments around the world are well aware of the dramatic deterioration in freedom in Hong Kong since 2020. However, apart from the United States imposing targeted sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials due to the National Security Law, few governments have taken concrete actions.

“The sharp decline in press freedom in Hong Kong has global implications, as the world has long benefited from Hong Kong’s brave journalists reporting on China,” Wang said. “The relevant governments should defend this remaining space by sanctioning officials who abuse their power and supporting Hong Kong journalists.”