Hong Kong Man Jailed for Wearing Protest T-Shirt
A Hong Kong man, Chu Kai-pong, was sentenced to 14 months in prison for wearing a t-shirt with the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” marking the first conviction under the new national security law. The slogan has been associated with anti-government protests and calls for Hong Kong’s separation from China.
Chu’s choice to wear the shirt on June 12, the anniversary of a major protest, added to the significance of his case. This is not the first time Chu has been imprisoned for his clothing choices. He was previously sentenced to three months in jail for wearing another provocative t-shirt.
The new security law in Hong Kong imposes harsh jail sentences for seditious acts, with offenders facing up to seven years in prison. Critics argue that this law threatens free speech in the region. Despite Chu’s guilty plea leading to a reduced sentence, Chief Magistrate Victor So noted that Chu showed unwillingness to reform.