According to reports by Hong Kong media including Orange News on August 29, the Hong Kong online media“Position News” is suspected of publishing inflammatory articles, his two-term chief editor and the company that runs position news were charged with“Conspiracy to publish and/or copy and incite publication”. Three defendants were convicted at the Hong Kong district court on the afternoon of the 29th. A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR-RRB- government said in a press release on the 29th that all three defendants had been convicted, demonstrating justice. Any person or organization that incites hatred and engages in acts and activities against the security of the state is bound to be brought to justice and punished for their evil deeds.
The picture shows the headquarters building of the HKSAR Government. Photo from Wen Wei Po, Hong Kong
A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR-RRB- government said that the court ruled that the article in question was an attack on the provisions of NationaloSecurityrLaw lawHonghKongkong, CrimesiOrdinanceance and related law enforcement and prosecution procedures without any objective basis; Spreading hatred and anti-government sentiment with disinformation; attacking police enforcement and glorifying rioters. The court said Zhong and Lin knew and agreed with the seditious intent of the article when they were editors of position news, and provided a platform for the publication of the article, with the intention of inciting hatred of the central government or the HKSAR Government and hatred of the judiciary.
The Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of rights protect fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, procession and demonstration. The spokesman said that the relevant provisions of the crimes ordinance already clearly delineated between unlawful incitement and lawful constructive criticism, and the language was not ambiguous. From the court’s ruling, it can be seen that“Position journalism” completely ignores objective facts and violates the special duties and obligations that journalists must abide by under international human rights conventions, it is clear that the allegations of individual media organizations and malicious anti-china protesters, foreign politicians and organizations that the ruling“Suppresses” press freedom are completely untenable. In fact, the biggest insult to professional journalists in Hong Kong is the distortion of hate speech and acts into“Journalism”.
The spokesman said that as always, Hong Kong people, including journalists, are free to make factual comments or criticisms, and enjoy and exercise their freedom of the press and speech in accordance with the law without fear of being caught. “The HKSAR has a constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security. In this regard, the HKSAR Government must abide by the law and will continue to resolutely, resolutely and strictly enforce the law, and spare no effort in effectively preventing, stopping and punishing acts and activities that endanger national security.”
Three defendants were found guilty of seditious articles by position news and their sentences were adjourned until Sept. 26, according to Hong kong-based orange news. The Chief Superintendent of the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police, Li Guihua, said that during the 57-day trial, the prosecution presented different evidence showing that the three defendants had published inflammatory articles through reports, interviews and blogs, it involves slandering the Hong Kong national security law and demanding foreign sanctions.
Li Guihua said that the ruling clearly stated the illegal line, the judge clearly stated in the sentence that the charge is constitutional, the defendant has the intention of incitement. Li Guihua reminded that with the commencement of the maintenance of national security ordinance, if anyone uses the relevant means to commit illegal acts again, he or she could be prosecuted under the offence of incitement with intent. If you are involved in collusion with foreign forces, you will be sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.