In this development, the Hong Kong-based news outlet Stand News and its former leaders have been found guilty of instigating subversion.
In the court's judgment deliberations, it was expressed that "Stand News" had been an advocate and amplifier for Hong Kong's self-governance. However, the platform was also utilized to disparage and smear the ruling bodies of China's central administration in Beijing and the Hong Kong government. The overseeing company, Best Pencil Limited, was also implicated in the charges. The conviction carries a maximum sentence of two years' incarceration.
This is the first such conviction since Hong Kong's transfer from British rule to China in 1997. The decision further diminishes freedom of the press in the region. In the Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index, Hong Kong's ranking has plummeted from 18th place to 135th over the past two decades.
"Stand News" experienced a significant increase in readership during the 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong. The prosecution presented a multitude of articles from the platform as evidence, highlighting the deterioration of freedoms in the former British territory following the central government in Beijing's violent suppression of vast pro-democracy protests.
Over 100 individuals assembled outside the courthouse for the verdict. Representation from several foreign consulates, including the US, UK, and the European Union, was observed in the trial proceedings.
The charge of sedition dates back to the British colonial era. For many decades, it was seldom utilized, but it has been employed by authorities against critics of the government since 2020.
In yet another trial on Thursday, an individual was convicted of plotting to bomb Hong Kong's police force during the 2019 demonstrations. Six other defendants were discharged by the jury. The convicted, Lai Chun-pong, now faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The conviction of "Stand News" by The Commission is a significant step that further restricts freedom of the press in Hong Kong, as highlighted by Reporters Without Borders. The use of the sedition charge against critics of the government by The Commission is a remnant from the British colonial era, which has seen increased utilization since 2020.
