HK journalists found guilty in landmark sedition case

In a significant legal development, two journalists from Hong Kong have been convicted of sedition, marking a historic moment as it is the first case of its kind against journalists since the 1997 handover of Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule. The journalists, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, served as editors for the now-defunct Stand News, a pro-democracy media outlet. They now face the possibility of a maximum sentence of two years in prison. This verdict has drawn sharp criticism from various human rights organizations, with Reporters Without Borders urging the Hong Kong government to cease its harmful campaign against press freedom. The presiding judge, Kwok Wai-kin, stated in his written judgment that Stand News posed a threat to national security, emphasizing that the newspaper's editorial stance advocated for 'Hong Kong local autonomy. ' He further noted that the publication had become a tool for disparaging the Central Authorities in Beijing and the Hong Kong SAR Government. The charges against the journalists were brought under a colonial-era sedition law, which had been infrequently utilized by prosecutors until now, rather than the more controversial national security law (NSL). Sentencing for the two journalists is scheduled for later this month. Stand News gained prominence during the pro-democracy protests in 2019 and was one of the few remaining openly pro-democratic publications until its closure in December 2021. The police raid on Stand News involved over 200 officers and resulted in the arrest of seven employees, who were accused of conspiring to publish seditious materials, including interviews with pro-democracy activists. The current chief executive of Hong Kong, John Lee, supported the police operation, labeling those arrested as 'evil elements' that threaten press freedom. This case has attracted international attention and condemnation from Western nations. The United States has consistently criticized the prosecution of journalists in Hong Kong, asserting that the case against Chung and Lam creates a chilling effect on the press and media landscape. Over the past two decades, Hong Kong's ranking in press freedom has plummeted from 18th to 135th place, according to the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. Following the verdict, the Asia-Pacific director of Reporters Without Borders described it as an 'appalling verdict' that sets a dangerous precedent for journalists. He warned that moving forward, anyone reporting facts that contradict the official narrative of the authorities could face sedition charges. He reiterated the call for Hong Kong's authorities to halt the ongoing judicial harassment of journalists and to end their harmful campaign against press freedom.