Hong Kong Man Faces Years in Jail for Wearing Protest T-Shirt Under Tougher National Security Law

A 27-year-old man in Hong Kong, Chu Kai-pong, is facing years in prison after pleading guilty to sedition for wearing a protest T-shirt in violation of the city’s stringent national security law. The T-shirt, emblazoned with the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” led to his arrest on June 12, a date symbolically linked to the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Chu was charged with “doing acts with seditious intent” under the revised law, which has increased penalties for such offenses, raising the maximum jail sentence from two to seven years. He had previously served a three-month prison term for similar charges, including possessing protest flags and slogans. This marks the first conviction under the new law, which authorities say is necessary to safeguard national security.

Chu’s defense argued that the slogan merely referenced the call for Hong Kong’s return to British rule and aimed to remind the public of the 2019 protests. The court, however, found the slogan “capable of inciting secession.”

With his sentencing scheduled for Thursday, Chu has already spent three months in custody. The tougher security law, which also addresses treason, espionage, and external interference, has led to over 300 arrests, with 157 convictions as of last month. Critics, including Western nations, warn that the law is eroding Hong Kong’s freedoms, while authorities maintain it is essential to maintain order.