Stand News Trial

Chung Pui-kuen, 54, former editor-in-chief of Stand News, appeared in court and was found guilty of sedition. He was allowed bail while waiting for the sentencing. Chung appeared "emotionless" in court and after. Before departing, he thanked the crowd of journalists reporting on the case.

In the mitigation letter, Chung said, some Hong Kong people are willing to "sacrifice their freedom", out of concern for the "freedom and dignity of the community" and it is the "unavoidable responsibility" of journalists to "truthfully document and report their stories".

The two former editors-in-chief of the independent "pro-democratic" news outlet, Stand News, have been found guilty of publishing seditious publications. The judge ruled that Stand News had become "a tool for smearing and slandering the Chinese and Hong Kong SAR governments" during the 2019 protests. The two are the first journalists to be convicted for sedition since Hong Kong was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997.

Back in December 2021, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force raided the office of Stand News and arrested Media executives and journalists. The case was controversial, as some criticised the Hong Kong Government for "eroding freedom of expression and press" by arresting journalists and shutting down "pro-democratic" news outlets, including Stand News and Apple Daily.