HK Editors Jailed for Seditious Articles

Hong Kong courts have sentenced two former Stand News editors, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, in a landmark sedition case, marking the first time journalists have been imprisoned for sedition since Hong Kong's 1997 handover to China. Chung received a 21-month sentence, while Lam, who has severe health issues, was given an 11-month sentence but was immediately released due to time served. The case has sparked international outcry, with Western diplomats and human rights advocates condemning the verdict as a blow to press freedom in Hong Kong. The court found the journalists guilty of conspiring to publish seditious articles that criticized the Hong Kong and Beijing governments, a move seen as part of China's broader crackdown on pro-democracy voices following the 2019 protests. Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, emphasized that no one is above the law, including the media, urging the industry to maintain its credibility and ethics. Stand News, a pro-democracy outlet, was shut down in December 2021 following a police raid.