Two journalists from the Hong Kong media outlet Stand News (now closed) have been found guilty of conspiracy to publish seditious content, marking a significant blow to the city’s already fragile press freedom.
Chung Pui-kuen, the former editor-in-chief, and Patrick Lam, the former acting editor-in-chief, were detained during a police raid on December 29, 2021.
The court identified 11 articles published by Stand News as seditious, out of 17 that prosecutors argued incited hatred against Hong Kong and Chinese authorities under the national security law.
Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, condemned the verdict as a “dark day for press freedom.”
In its ruling, the district court emphasized the potential threat to national security. Stand News, recognized for its reporting on the 2019 pro-democracy protests, was considered a credible news source until it was forced to close. Following the crackdown on pro-democracy media, including Apple Daily, many journalists in Hong Kong now face increased risks in their work.
Chung and Lam could face up to two years in prison and a fine, with sentencing set for September 26. They have the right to appeal the verdict.
The case has drawn international criticism, with human rights organizations and foreign governments expressing concerns over the state of media freedom in Hong Kong.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
