Police officers stand guard outside the High Court, where Tong Ying-kit receives his sentencing for terrorist activities and inciting secession, Hong Kong, July 30, 2021. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – The first person convicted under the National Security Law for Hong Kong was sentenced to nine years in prison for terrorist activities and inciting secession at the High Court on Friday.
Leon Tong Ying-kit, who displayed a flag with a secessionist slogan and rammed into police officers during a protest last year, was found guilty of terrorism and incitement to secession on Tuesday.
We consider that this overall term should sufficiently reflect the defendant's culpability in the two offenses and the abhorrence of society, at the same time, achieving the deterrent effect required.
Judges Anthea Pang Po-kam, Esther Toh Lye-ping and Wilson Chan Ka-shun
In a demonstration on July 1 last year, the now 24-year-old defendant broke through several police cordon lines and injured three police officers with his motorcycle, which carried a flag bearing the protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our times”.
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Judges Anthea Pang Po-kam, Esther Toh Lye-ping and Wilson Chan Ka-shun ruled on Tuesday that the slogan was capable of inciting others to commit secession.
On Friday, the judges sentenced Tong to 6.5 years for inciting secession and 8 years for terrorist activities. Of these, 2.5 years will run consecutively, resulting in a total term of 9 years.
"We consider that this overall term should sufficiently reflect the defendant's culpability in the two offenses and the abhorrence of society, at the same time, achieving the deterrent effect required," they said in a written judgment.
Welcoming the ruling, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said the government would thoroughly study the verdict before deciding on its next course of action.
Several other high-profile cases under the National Security Law will be heard in court in the next few months.
Media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who is currently serving a jail term for organizing and participating in illegal assemblies, will appear in court on Oct 12 for two national security-related charges and another of intending to obstruct public justice.
The two charges are collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security, and conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.
READ MORE: HK's first NSL defendant guilty of inciting secession, terrorism
Benny Tai Yiu-ting and 46 others who participated in an illegal primary election in 2020 were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion. The case will be heard on Sept 23.
Three middle school students, who are members of a local radical organization, were charged with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in July for allegedly planning to attack the city’s key infrastructure facilities with homemade bombs. The next hearing is scheduled on Sept 1.