The verdict is expected in a sedition case against two journalists in Hong Kong, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, who led the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Stand News. They have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to publish seditious materials under a law dating to Hong Kong’s time as a British colony. This trial is considered a test of press freedom in the Chinese territory, following a crackdown on dissent after mass antigovernment protests in 2019. The verdict, after almost two years of trial delays, could result in up to two years in prison and a fine for Chung and Lam. Stand News was shut down in 2021 after its office was raided and assets frozen, with Chung and Lam later charged in connection with the case. The closure of Stand News and other pro-democracy news outlets has raised concerns about declining press freedom in Hong Kong, as reflected in international press freedom rankings. The journalists maintain they were reporting legitimate news stories, while critics argue that the sedition charges are an attempt to suppress dissenting voices. The situation in Hong Kong has drawn criticism from Western officials and human rights organizations, who emphasize the importance of protecting journalistic freedom in the region.
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Outcome anticipated in sedition case involving two Hong Kong journalists
