Hong Kong, April 15 (ANI): A Hong Kong resident has been sentenced to one year in prison under the city’s expanding national security regime, in a case likely to intensify concerns over declining civil liberties.
According to Hong Kong Free Press, the individual, Raymond Chong, a retiree in his early 60s, pleaded guilty to publishing content deemed “seditious” by authorities.
The case was heard at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts before national security judge Victor So. Chong was initially handed an 18-month sentence, which was later reduced to one year after accounting for his guilty plea. The charges were linked to 53 Facebook posts made between March 2024 and November 2025.
The posts, shared on a public page titled “Holy Raymond,” included messages supporting Hong Kong independence and calling for the dismantling of the Chinese Communist Party. The page’s profile slogan also carried a message critical of Beijing, reflecting the type of dissent increasingly being criminalized.
During mitigation, Chong’s defense argued that his views were shaped by his association with Falun Gong and exposure to information that led him to oppose the Chinese Communist Party. His lawyer maintained that the posts reflected personal frustration and opinion rather than any intent to incite unrest or mobilize the public.
However, the court rejected this argument, noting that the posts had garnered more than 650 likes and around 90 comments, indicating measurable reach and influence.
The case falls under Article 23, formally known as the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, enacted in March 2024. The legislation targets offenses such as sedition, treason, espionage, and external interference, but has drawn criticism from rights groups who argue it is being used to curb dissent and tighten Beijing’s control over Hong Kong, raising concerns about the future of free expression in the city. (ANI)
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