Hong Kong: young activist convicted of "secession" risks life imprisonment

Pro-independence Hong Kong activist Tony Chung Hon-lam at a protest in Hong Kong on January 1, 2019. AP - Kin Cheung

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Hong Kong activist Tony Chung, 20, pleaded guilty to " 

" on Wednesday (November 3rd) in the fourth case tried under the National Security Act.

Facts punishable by imprisonment for life.

He will be the youngest activist to be sentenced under this new legislation imposed at the end of June by Beijing on the semi-autonomous territory.

The next hearing is scheduled for November 23.

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" 

 "

said

in court on Wednesday (November 3) as he pleaded his case.

Judge Stanley Chan immediately warned him: Politics will not be allowed in the courtroom.

Tony Chung was the head of a now disbanded student group, Student Localism, founded in 2016 and demanding Hong Kong independence.

According to the prosecution, the group advocated that the former British colony " 

 " and " 

 ", disseminating its messages via social media, calls for demonstrations and products bearing messages of independence.

According to prosecutors, the group had appealed to the United States to pass a law imposing sanctions on Hong Kong and China.

Tony Chung was also convicted of a money laundering charge on Wednesday.

In return, the public ministry agreed to file a charge of sedition as well as a second charge of money laundering, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Outrage to the Chinese flag

Although authorities have previously said the security law was not retroactive, prosecutors cited numerous offenses that allegedly took place before the law came into force.

The young man was arrested at the end of October by plainclothes police a few meters from the American consulate and had since been in pre-trial detention.

According to a group calling itself "Friends of Hong Kong", the young activist was arrested by the police that day because he wanted to seek asylum at the US consulate in Hong Kong.

Last December, Tony Chung was sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of the Chinese flag and illegal assembly.

► 

Over 150 arrests

A large number of pro-democracy activists have left the city to seek refuge abroad since Beijing intensified the repression of movements denouncing the takeover of China in the territory.

Under the controversial law, which leaves room for wide interpretation, activists who voice their opinions can be accused of " 

" and "

 ".

Four other men have so far been convicted in separate security law cases.

More than 150 people were arrested, of whom about half were charged.

Bail is often refused.

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