Hong Kong Court to Rule on Stand News Editors in Landmark Sedition Case

In a case that has drawn international attention, a Hong Kong court is set to deliver its verdict on two editors of the now-defunct online news outlet Stand News. This marks the first sedition trial against journalists since Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule in 1997, raising concerns about media freedom in the city.

Chung Pui-kuen, 54, and Patrick Lam, 36, along with the parent company Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Ltd, face charges of conspiracy to publish seditious publications. The case stems from 17 news articles and commentaries published between July 2020 and December 2021.

The trial, which lasted 57 days, has become a focal point in discussions about Hong Kong's changing media landscape. Stand News, once a prominent online media outlet known for its critical reporting, was forced to cease operations in December 2021 following a police raid and asset freeze.

Prosecutors allege that Stand News acted as a political platform to promote "illegal" ideologies and incite hatred against the Chinese and Hong Kong governments. The articles in question include interviews with jailed or exiled pro-democracy politicians and a news piece about human rights lawyer Chow Hang-tung.

"The media should not self-censor but report. We upheld the principle of publishing every article we received to showcase the greatest extent of freedom of speech, as long as they didn't immediately cause violence, affect public health and cause defamation."

Chung, who testified for 36 days, defended media freedoms and maintained that Stand News had only "recorded the facts and reported the truth" while providing a platform for diverse voices.

The case has unfolded against the backdrop of significant changes in Hong Kong's media environment. Since the implementation of the national security law in 2020, concerns about press freedom have intensified. Hong Kong's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has dropped to 148th out of 180 countries in 2023, reflecting the challenging conditions for journalists.

The closure of Stand News followed the shutdown of another pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily, in 2021. These events have led to increased self-censorship and a reduction in the presence of international media organizations in Hong Kong since 2020.

The verdict, originally scheduled for October 2023, has been delayed multiple times. If convicted, the editors face a maximum sentence of two years in prison. The outcome of this case is likely to have far-reaching implications for journalism and freedom of expression in Hong Kong, a city that once prided itself on its vibrant media landscape and adherence to the "one country, two systems" principle proposed by Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s.

As Hong Kong continues to navigate its complex relationship with mainland China, the international community watches closely, with many viewing this case as a litmus test for the future of press freedom in the former British colony.