HKFP: Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 31

Hong Kong Free Press details everything that happened this past month – and there’s a lot more to be aware of than you thought.

Here’s the introduction

Several people arrested by national security police officers, former Stand News editor accused of sedition delivered testimony, and Beijing’s interpretation of the security law continued to stoke debate.

In January, the former editor-in-chief of shuttered independent outlet Stand News delivered his testimony as the sedition trial against him, another ex-editor and the platform’s parent company continued.

Meanwhile, six people were arrested by national security police over an allegedly “seditious” book in the largest national security arrests in months, the high-profile trial involving pro-democracy figures charged with conspiring to commit subversion under the national security law was delayed until February, and legal professionals weighed in on Beijing’s interpretation of the security legislation.

Stand News trial

The trial against two ex-top editors of defunct news outlet Stand News continued this month, with Chung Pui-kuen, the former editor-in-chief, taking the stand.

The court heard that Chung had planned to step down following the closure of pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, and that Stand News was committed to protecting freedom of speech.

Allegedly “seditious” articles and opinion pieces were also examined in court, with Chung testifying that the outlet accidentally published an op-ed comparing Hong Kong’s 2019 protests with the Irish War of Independence.

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Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 31