First Conviction for Violating Hong Kong Security Law... "'Liberate Hong Kong' Slogan Incites Separatist Independence"

'Gwangbok Hongkong, Sidae Hyeokmyeong' Slogan Recognized as Separatist Incitement

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young]The first person prosecuted under the Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law) has been sentenced guilty.

According to major foreign media on the 27th, a panel of three High Court judges appointed by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam delivered a guilty verdict to Tong Ying-kit (24), who was charged with violating the Hong Kong Security Law. Cases related to the Hong Kong Security Law are handled by judges appointed by the Chief Executive.

Tong was prosecuted and brought to trial for allegedly riding a motorcycle with a flag bearing the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times" and charging at three riot police officers on July 1 of last year, the effective enforcement date of the Hong Kong Security Law.

The main charge was committing terrorism and inciting secession, violating the Hong Kong Security Law, with reckless driving applied as a preliminary charge.

On this day, the court found him guilty of terrorism and incitement to secession but did not make a judgment on the reckless driving charge.

In the verdict, the court stated, "Tong was aware that the slogan on the flag signified secession," and "His act of hitting the police officers with the motorcycle seriously endangered public safety and order." The sentence will be announced later and could be up to life imprisonment.

Tong's side pleaded not guilty at trial. Tong's lawyer argued that merely using the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times" cannot be considered incitement to secession, and that there is no basis to judge his act as intentional since he tried not to hit the police officers with the motorcycle.

Unlike usual cases, Tong did not receive a jury trial. The Hong Kong authorities decided not to include a jury in Tong's trial, citing Article 46 of the Hong Kong Security Law, which allows trials without juries when national security is threatened or foreign interference is involved.

So far, over 60 people, including Jimmy Lai, the owner of the pro-democracy media Apple Daily which was shut down last month, have been prosecuted for violating the Hong Kong Security Law, with most currently detained awaiting trial.