This week, two Hong Kong journalists, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, will receive the verdict of their sedition trial, which could have significant implications for the future of journalism in the city. The trial, based on colonial-era sedition laws, could result in up to two years in prison for the former editors of Stand News, an independent news outlet that has since closed down. Alongside five other staff and board members, including prominent figures like Denise Ho and Margaret Ng, Chung and Lam were arrested in December 2021 by Hong Kong’s national security police.
Sedition charges had been dormant in Hong Kong until 2020 when Beijing implemented new national security laws in response to anti-government protests. This trial, being the first sedition case related to journalism, will focus on defining what constitutes legitimate reporting versus incitement against the government. Prosecutors allege that Chung and Lam conspired to publish seditious articles critical of the government, turning Stand News into a political platform.
During the trial, the defence argued that the articles did not pose a real threat to national security and were in the public interest. Despite irregularities in the prosecution’s conduct, experts predict a conviction given the trend of court rulings since 2020. The closure of Stand News in the wake of the police raid underscores the shrinking space for independent media in Hong Kong, with several outlets shutting down due to the deteriorating media environment.
The government’s tightening of sedition laws, including the passage of Article 23, aims to prevent political unrest and foreign interference. Maximum penalties for sedition have been raised, and new offences like inciting hatred against the Chinese Communist Party have been added. Supporters of the legislation argue that safeguarding national security is crucial for Hong Kong’s stability. However, critics view these measures as further eroding press freedom and stifling dissent in the city.