First people are sentenced under new security law

A Hong Kong court sentenced the first two people under a new Hong Kong national security law yesterday, including a man who was given 14 months in prison for wearing a T-shirt with a protest slogan. A second man received 10 months for writing pro-independence messages on the back of bus seats.

The city’s new security law, which critics say further stifles freedom of expression, took effect in March and imposes stiffer punishments for sedition offenses. Offenders face up to seven years in prison, up from the previous maximum sentence of two years for a first offense and three years for a subsequent offense.

The prosecution accused Chu of attempting to cause hatred, contempt or disaffection toward the country’s fundamental system and the city’s constitutional order. It said his acts could incite others to use illegal means to change what the authorities have decided on.

The 2019 protest movement was the most concerted challenge to the Hong Kong government since the handover in 1997.

MDT/AP