A Hong Kong court has found a prominent media figure guilty on multiple charges related to national security. The verdict concludes a lengthy trial that had drawn significant international attention.
The defendant, a 78-year-old founder of a now-defunct newspaper, was convicted on charges including conspiracy to colluse with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious material. The charges were brought under both the territory’s national security legislation and a sedition law dating to its colonial era.
In delivering the verdict, the presiding judge stated the defendant had acted as a “mastermind” in schemes aimed at undermining stability. The court rejected the defendant’s plea of not guilty, in which he had argued his work represented core values and denied advocating violence or separatism.
The sentencing will be determined at a later date, with a hearing scheduled for early January. The defendant, who is already serving a separate prison term, now faces the possibility of a life sentence.
The trial’s conclusion has prompted statements from various international press freedom and human rights organizations. These groups have broadly condemned the verdict, characterizing it as a severe blow to journalistic freedom and expressing concern over the defendant’s health during prolonged detention.
A significant police presence was noted outside the courthouse as the verdict was announced. The case is viewed by observers as one of the final major national security trials stemming from the territory’s recent political unrest.