Hong Kong Court Convicts Stand News Editors

In a landmark case reflecting Hong Kong's deteriorating press freedoms, two former Stand News editors, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, were found guilty of sedition. This marks the first sedition conviction of journalists since Hong Kong's 1997 handover to China. The court ruled that 11 of 17 articles published by Stand News incited hatred against the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, promoting 'illegal ideologies'. The trial, seen as a barometer for media freedom, drew international condemnation and highlighted a broader crackdown on dissent following the 2019 pro-democracy protests. The editors face up to two years in prison and a fine, with sentencing scheduled for September 26.