In a recent development that has raised global concerns about press freedom, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Hong Kong government to overturn the convictions of two journalists from the now-defunct Stand News and halt its broader crackdown on media freedom. This plea comes amid ongoing worries about the impact of the National Security Law in the China-controlled region.
On August 29, the Hong Kong District Court convicted Chung Pui-kuen, 54, and Patrick Lam, 36, former editor-in-chief and acting editor-in-chief of Stand News, respectively, along with the paper’s parent company, Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Limited. They were found guilty of “conspiring to publish seditious materials,” a charge that could result in up to two years in prison for the journalists.
Maya Wang, HRW’s China Director, criticized the convictions, stating, “The Hong Kong government is sending a dire message to journalists that reporting on issues of public concern will get you thrown in jail.” She urged both the Hong Kong and Chinese governments to immediately overturn the convictions and cease their assault on media freedom.
The court’s decision followed a 57-day trial during which the prosecution presented 17 articles from Stand News as evidence. The prosecution alleged that these articles were intended to “incite hatred against the Hong Kong and central governments.” The judge, appointed by the government to oversee national security cases, ruled that 11 of these articles were “seditious,” leading to the shutdown of Stand News in December 2021 after police raids and the arrest of its staff.
The National Security Law, enacted in 2020, has been used by both the Chinese and Hong Kong governments to curtail civil liberties. The law’s broad and vaguely defined scope has allowed for an increase in prosecutions under a colonial-era sedition law, which has been used against a variety of individuals, from children’s book authors to pro-independence activists.
In March, the introduction of an even stricter national security law replaced the colonial-era sedition statute, imposing penalties of up to seven years in prison. This new legislation further consolidates the government’s power to suppress dissent.
Despite widespread international condemnation and concerns voiced by several governments and the United Nations over Hong Kong’s rapidly declining freedoms, only a few nations have taken concrete actions. The United States, however, has imposed targeted sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials in response to the National Security Law.
As the situation continues to unfold, the global community watches closely, hoping for a reversal in the erosion of press freedoms and civil liberties in Hong Kong.