National security law: student activist who advocated Hong Kong independence jailed for 43 months

A student activist who advocated Hong Kong’s independence and raised HK$136,000 (US$17,450) through crowdfunding to further his political agenda has been jailed for 43 months, becoming the third person in the city to be sentenced under the national security law.

Tony Chung Hon-lam returned before the District Court on Tuesday, three weeks after pleading guilty to secession and money-laundering charges in relation to his roles in two pro-independence groups after the Beijing-imposed legislation took effect on June 30 last year.

The 20-year-old founder of the now-defunct Studentlocalism group is the youngest person yet to be found guilty under the new legislation, which outlaws acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. Four other defendants, aged 24 to 31, have previously been convicted, with two of them awaiting sentencing.

Judge Stanley Chan Kwong-chi, one of a few jurists hand-picked by the city’s leader to oversee security law proceedings, found Chung an active participant in the illegal actions, deserving of three to 10 years in jail under sentencing directions for such cases.

The multiple secessionist statements made by Chung and the independence propaganda seized from his home indicated his heavy involvement, Chan said.

The judge also highlighted Chung’s appearance at the US consulate shortly before his arrest in October last year as a factor in sentencing, but said he would not speculate on the purpose of the activist’s visit.

The Post reported at the time that Chung and three others had entered the diplomatic mission in a bid for asylum, but their requests were rejected.