First person tried under security law found guilty
HONG KONG: The first person to be tried under Hong Kong’s national security law was found guilty of secessionism and terrorism on Tuesday.
The Hong Kong high court handed down the verdict in the case of Tong Ying-kit, age 24. He’s accused of driving his motorcycle into a group of police officers while carrying a flag bearing the protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” on July 1 last year, a day after Beijing imposed sweeping national security legislation on Hong Kong following months of anti-government protests in 2019.
The verdict was closely watched for indications as to how similar cases will be dealt with in future. More than 100 people have been arrested under the security legislation.
Tong pleaded not guilty to charges of inciting secession, terrorism and an alternative charge of dangerous driving. He faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and his lawyers are expected to argue for a lighter punishment at his sentencing hearing on Thursday.
The trial, which ended July 20, was held in the high court with no jury, under rules allowing this exception from Hong Kong’s common law system if state secrets need to be protected, foreign forces are involved or if the personal safety of jurors needs to be protected. Trials are presided over by judges handpicked by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam.
Tong’s lawyer has said it’s impossible to prove that Tong was inciting secession merely by having used the slogan. The defence also said there is no evidence that Tong committed the act deliberately, and that he avoided crashing into officers.
While Hong Kong has its own legislative council, Beijing’s ceremonial legislature imposed the national security law on the city after it determined the body was unable to pass the legislation itself because of opposition.