2 journalists convicted in landmark sedition case by Hong Kong court

HONG KONG: Two former editors of the now-defunct Stand News, a prominent Hong Kong news outlet, have been convicted in a landmark sedition case, marking a significant moment for media freedom in the city.

The trial of former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen and former acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam was Hong Kong's first sedition case involving media professionals since the city returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Stand News, shut down in December 2021, had been one of the last media outlets in Hong Kong openly critical of the government amid a crackdown on dissent following the pro-democracy protests in 2019. The closure of Stand News came just months after the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper was forced to cease operations.

Chung and Lam, who pleaded not guilty, were charged with conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious publications under a colonial-era sedition law increasingly used to silence dissidents. They face up to two years in prison and a fine of 5,000 Hong Kong dollars (about $640) for a first offense. The outlet's holding company, Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Ltd., was also convicted on the same charges.

Judge Kwok Wai-kin stated in his ruling that Stand News had become a tool for smearing the Beijing and Hong Kong governments during the 2019 protests.

The case revolved around 17 articles published by Stand News, with the judge ruling that 11 carried seditious intent. These articles included writings by activist Nathan Law and respected journalists Allan Au and Chan Pui-man.

Both Chung and Lam were granted bail pending their sentencing on September 26. Lam, absent due to health reasons, stated through his lawyer that Stand News sought to maintain independent editorial standards.

After the verdict, former Stand News journalist Ronson Chan said journalists were never warned they might face arrest for their reporting.

The trial outcome drew international criticism, including from the U.S. State Department, which called it a "direct attack on media freedom."

Meanwhile, Hong Kong officials defended the convictions, stating that journalists who report based on facts would not face restrictions.