Hong Kong Free Press..
Ma Chun-man’s lawyers argued that he chanted pro-independence slogans in an effort to prove the national security law would not be used against speech, and thus did not constitute an intent to incite secession.
Lawyers for a man on trial for allegedly inciting secession have argued that their client intended to repeatedly chant pro-independence slogans in public shortly after the national security law’s enactment as a test. Ma Chun-man’s actions were immature, but he had no real intent to incite others to endanger national security, a court on Tuesday heard.
The 30-year-old became the second person in the city to face a national security trial after he was accused of “inciting secession” over the content of slogans he chanted and speeches he made during at least 20 public occasions, and via social media.
Ma declined to give evidence or to summon witnesses last week.
On Tuesday, District Court judge Stanley Chan heard closing submissions from Ma’s senior defence counsel Edwin Choy and from prosecutor Laura Ng, as both sides weighed in on whether there was sufficient evidence to demonstrate that Ma’s intent was to incite others to effect secession. The defence did not dispute the evidence submitted by the prosecution, and did not ask to cross examine the prosecution’s witnesses.
Choy argued that video evidence showed Ma saying in public that his purpose for chanting slogans in public — weeks after the national security law’s enactment — was to prove that the legislation would not reduce civic freedoms and human rights in the city, as he could not be prosecuted over his slogans and speech.
In a video clip, Ma showed that he wanted “to prove the national security law was not a beast, and that the legislation continues to protect human rights and freedoms. Therefore his intent was not to incite,” Choy said.
