A Hong Kong court is preparing to sentence two former editors of Stand News, a case viewed as a critical measure of press freedom in the region. Chung Pui-kuen, the former editor-in-chief, and Patrick Lam, the former acting editor-in-chief, were convicted under a colonial-era sedition law, marking the first such convictions since the city returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.
The sentencing follows their conviction last month for conspiracy to publish seditious materials, alongside Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Ltd., the holding company for the now-defunct news outlet. This closure occurred shortly after the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily ceased operations, whose founder, Jimmy Lai, is currently imprisoned facing charges related to national security laws implemented by Beijing in 2020.
Judge Kwok Wai-king stated that Stand News had been utilized to undermine the Beijing and Hong Kong governments during the 2019 protests. He ruled that 11 articles published under Chung and Lam’s leadership exhibited seditious intent, including writings by activists and veteran journalists. The two face potential sentences of up to two years in prison and fines of 5,000 Hong Kong dollars.
As news of the upcoming sentencing spread, dozens of supporters gathered outside the courtroom. Andrew Wong, a 35-year-old former reader of Stand News, expressed his feelings of despair, comparing the courtroom attendance to “attending a funeral.” He lamented, “Everything we had in the past is gone,” reflecting on the profound changes in media freedom in Hong Kong.
The trial commenced in October 2022 and spanned nearly 50 days, with multiple postponements due to other legal proceedings. Defense attorney Audrey Eu argued for leniency, emphasizing the journalists’ duty to report on civic matters. Both Chung and Lam highlighted their commitment to journalism in their statements.
Following their arrests, the two were detained for nearly a year before being released on bail in late 2022. Eu noted that Lam is undergoing treatment for a rare illness, while Chung has faced unemployment, compounded by his wife’s imprisonment.
Hong Kong’s media landscape has deteriorated significantly, dropping to 135th place out of 180 in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index, down from 80th in 2021 and 18th in 2002. Increasing self-censorship and harassment of journalists have become prevalent as the government tightens control in the wake of the pro-democracy protests.
With the recent enactment of a new security law, concerns grow over further restrictions on press freedom in the city, signaling a troubling future for independent journalism in Hong Kong.
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