Prominent Hong Kong democratic activist Tam Tak-chi has been sentenced to 40 months in prison. Charges of sedition were brought under old colonial law.
Former radio host and vice chairman of the opposition People Power Tam Tak-chi has been sentenced to 40 months in prison in Hong Kong. The 49-year-old democratic activist has been in prison for a year and was found guilty in March. However, he only received his sentence on Wednesday. It was the first trial since the former British crown colony was returned to China in 1997 in which charges of sedition had been brought under old colonial law.
His conviction demonstrates how the authorities of China’s special administrative region are using other legal tools against the opposition democracy movement in addition to the controversial national security law enacted by Beijing in the summer of 2020. Tam Tak-chi was later accused of inciting insurrection and hatred against the Hong Kong government.
Hong Kong activist faces court again soon
He was accused of shouting the democratic slogans “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our time” or “Corrupt policemen should go to hell”. He was also accused of calling for the Chinese Communist Party to be “defeated” or “eliminated”. He will appear in court again next Thursday on an additional charge of conspiracy to subvert government power under the National Security Act.
The authorities in Hong Kong are using this controversial security law in particular to take action against the democracy movement. The vague wording of the law makes it easier to crack down on activities that China deems subversive, separatist, terrorist or conspiracy. Around 180 people have already been arrested. Many activists have also fled into exile.
Source: Stern
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