On August 29, a Hong Kong court convicted Chung Pui-kuen and Lam Shiu-tung, former chief editors of the now-closed independent news outlet Stand News, along with its holding company, Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Limited. They were found guilty of conspiring to publish “seditious” material. The maximum sentence they could face is two years in prison.
This conviction is seen as another blow to press freedom in Hong Kong, a fundamental right that is supposed to be protected by the Hong Kong Basic Law. Critics argue that the ruling could further restrict the exchange of ideas and limit the free flow of information, which have been key to Hong Kong’s economic success.
During the legal process, Chung and Lam were held in pre-trial detention for over 300 days. The trial itself lasted 57 days, much longer than the initially expected 20 days.
In response to the ruling, a spokesperson for the European Union urged Hong Kong authorities to rebuild trust in press freedom and to stop prosecuting journalists. “Free, independent, and diverse media are essential for strong and healthy societies,” the spokesperson said.
