Hong Kong Editors Found Guilty in Sedition Case Amid Media Crackdown

Two editors from Hong Kong's Stand News, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, were found guilty of publishing seditious articles, sparking international concerns over declining media freedom. Their conviction marks the first sedition charge against journalists since the 1997 handover. Critics argue this case further exemplifies deteriorating press freedoms under China's national security crackdown.

A Hong Kong court on Thursday found two editors of the now-defunct Stand News media outlet guilty of conspiring to publish seditious articles, attracting international scrutiny amid a security crackdown in the China-ruled city. Editors Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam face up to two years in jail when sentenced on Sept. 26, marking the first sedition conviction for journalists since Hong Kong's 1997 handover from Britain to China.

The case has drawn criticism from various quarters, including the U.S. government, who argue it signals deteriorating media freedoms under a years-long national security crackdown. Stand News, once a leading online media platform with critical reportage and commentary, was raided by police in December 2021, leading to its closure after its assets were frozen.

Chung, 54, Lam, 36, and the outlet's parent company Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Ltd were charged in connection with 17 seditious articles and commentaries between July 2020 and December 2021. Although Chung and Lam pleaded not guilty, the court found Chung responsible for editing or authorizing most of the controversial articles. These included pieces by exiled activists Nathan Law and Sunny Cheung, veteran journalist Allan Au, and Chung's wife Chan Pui-man.

International media freedom groups have condemned the ruling. Aleksandra Bielakowska, Asia-Pacific advocacy manager for Reporters without Borders (RSF), warned that this verdict sets a dangerous precedent for further suppression of independent voices by Beijing. Critics note that multiple media outlets have closed, numerous journalists have gone into exile, and those remaining face a restrictive environment under new national security laws.

During the trial, Chung defended media freedoms, arguing Stand News merely reported the facts and reflected diverse opinions, including pro-democracy views. He emphasized their commitment to freedom of speech, as long as the articles avoided inciting violence, defamation, or public harm. Lam added in a mitigation letter that the case underscored the importance of press freedom and that journalists must continue to report to defend it.

(With inputs from agencies.)