Hong Kong: Protester Pro-Democracy was sentenced to Friday to nine years in prison before the first case under the Hong Kong National Security Law as the Ruling Communist Party tightened the area.
Tong Ying-kit, 24, was convicted of inciting separation and terrorism to ride a motorcycle into a group of police officers on July 1, 2020, Rally.
He brought a flag that bore the slogan that was banned, ‘free Hong Kong, the revolution of our day.
” Beijing enforced security law in the former British colony last year after anti-government protests erupted in mid-2019.
The sentence was much longer than three years requested by prosecution.
Tong defense lawyer appealed for no more than 10.
He faced the most likely life in prison.
Critics accused Beijing violating Western-style civil autonomy and freedom promised when Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 and hurt his status as a trade and financial center.
Officials rejected criticism and said Beijing restored order and institutionalized security protection such as other countries.
More than 100 people have been arrested under security law.
Defense lawyers said Tong penalties had to be light because the three judges did not find the attack was intentional, no one was injured and violations related to separation that qualified under the law.
On Friday, Tong wore a black shirt and tie with a blue blazer when he was in the whole trial.
The three judges ruled Tuesday that Tong’s actions were acts of violence aimed at imposing the Hong Kong and Mainland government and intimidating the public.
It was said to bring the flag to be an incitement on self-separation, rejecting the defense argument that barrels could be proven to incite separation only by using the slogan.
Tong trial is carried out without a jury based on the rules that allow the exception to the General Legal Legal System of the British Hong Kong style if state secrets need to be protected or foreign forces are involved.
Judges were chosen by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam.
The last Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily, was closed last month after journalists and executives were arrested.
The owner, Jimmy Lai, serves a 20-month prison term and faces more charges of colluding with foreigners to endanger national security.
Also last year, Hong Kong’s legislature was rearranged to reduce the public role in choosing members of parliament and guaranteeing the majority for Beijing allied numbers.
The rules for selected officials are tightened to require them considered patriotic.