Freedom of Expression Under Threat in Hong Kong
In a worrying development, a Hong Kong man has been sentenced to 14 months in jail for wearing a T-shirt with protest slogans deemed “seditious” under the city’s new national security law. Chu Kai-pong, 27, is the first person to be convicted under this harsh new law, known as “Article 23”.
Chu was arrested for wearing a T-shirt and mask with protest phrases on June 12, a significant date associated with the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Chief Magistrate Victor So emphasized the seriousness of the offence, stating that Chu intended to reignite the unrest of 2019.
Another man, Chung Man-kit, 29, was also sentenced to 10 months in jail for writing similar slogans on bus seats. The use of the archaic sedition law, previously rarely employed, has increased since the protests in 2019 and the enactment of the national security law by Beijing.
This crackdown on freedom of expression in Hong Kong has raised concerns internationally, with Amnesty International calling for the abolition of such repressive laws. As more individuals are prosecuted under the national security law, the future of dissent and free speech in the city remains uncertain.