Former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen advocates for freedom of speech despite sedition conviction.
In a significant blow to press freedom in Hong Kong, former chief editors of Stand News, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, have been found guilty of sedition for publishing alleged seditious articles. This verdict, amidst a security crackdown in the city, has sparked concerns about the diminishing freedom of speech.
The court ruling, which could lead to a two-year prison sentence and a fine, is viewed as a litmus test for press freedom in Hong Kong following the handover to China in 1997. Stand News, known for its critical coverage of the government, was forced to shut down in 2021 after a police raid.
‘Eradicating dangerous ideas’
The sedition case revolved around 17 articles that allegedly promoted illegal ideologies and criticized the security law. Chung argued that freedom of speech should not be restricted to eradicate dangerous ideas but rather to counter them.
The media environment in Hong Kong continues to deteriorate, with several outlets, including Stand News and Apple Daily, facing closures. The city’s press freedom ranking has plummeted, raising concerns about self-censorship and the impact of new security laws on journalistic freedom.
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