The first person convicted under Hong Kong’s national security law will face nine years in prison for terrorist activities and inciting secession, judges said on Friday, in a watershed ruling with long-term implications for the city’s judicial landscape.
Former waiter Tong Ying-kit, 24, was accused of driving his motorcycle into three riot police last year while carrying a flag with the protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our times,” which judges ruled this week was “capable of inciting others to commit secession.”
Considering the totality principle of the court, Tong is to serve two and half years of his “terrorism” sentence consecutively with the six and a half years incitement to secession charge, bringing his total time in prison to nine years. Other parts of the sentence will be served concurrently.
He was also barred from obtaining a driver’s license for 10 years.
The court did not consider as mitigating circumstances Tong’s good behaviour and his personal situation as the breadwinner of his family.
Arisenews/ Aljazeera
