The first test on Hong Kong’s ongoing security laws | Political News

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Tong Ying-kit could be jailed for allegedly ‘separating himself’ from riding a motorcycle with a flag demanding ‘release’ from the police force.
Tong Ying-kit, the first person to be tried under Hong Kong’s National Security Law, was arraigned Wednesday, charged with “isolation” and “terrorism” for riding a flagship motorcycle calling for China’s release from police.
If found guilty, 24-year-old Tong could face life imprisonment. He is also accused of driving dangerously.
The case, in the presence of three judges and no prosecutors, is the first of a series of laws enacted by China last year after several months of protests in 2019. Hong Kong and Chinese officials said the law was necessary to restore order in Hong Kong. several times.
Opponents say it is being used as a tool to challenge the democratic movement by many politicians and freedom fighters who have been imprisoned since its inception.
Diplomats from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were out of court and the cases began at 10:45 am (02:45 GMT), according to the Citizen News.
Tong was arrested on July 1, just hours after the law was enacted, after he rode his motorcycle to a police station on the same day in protest of a security law. The bicycle carried a black flag with the words “Liberate Hong Kong, change for our time”, a word inscribed in accordance with this order.
All three pleaded not guilty.
Under security law, cases can be tried by three judges instead of judges, which is done according to common law in Hong Kong.
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