Hong Kong opposition activist Tam Tak-chi jailed for 40 months after being found guilty on 11 charges under colonial-era sedition law
- The 50-year-old former People Power vice-chairman, popularly known as ‘Fast Beat’, was the first defendant in more than 24 years to face sedition charges
- Tam initially faced 14 charges over his role in various public gatherings between January and July of 2020
A human rights observer called the ruling “harsh”, warning Hong Kong’s freedoms were deteriorating at a “dizzying speed”, and residents could now face years behind bars simply for chanting slogans.
Former radio presenter Tam Tak-chi, 50, returned to the District Court on Wednesday to be sentenced before a judge hand-picked by city leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to oversee national security proceedings.
Judge Stanley Chan Kwong-chi said a hefty sentence was necessary to sanction Tam for vilifying the government and police and denigrating the security law imposed by Beijing in June 2020.
He also called the former People Power vice-chairman a “peasant” and a Christian who had acted against the teachings of his religion, adding he was merely fishing for fame when he used a stream of “invective” to publicly assail police officers and his political rivals.
Tam, popularly known as “Fast Beat”, was the first defendant in more than 24 years to face sedition charges when prosecutors invoked the colonial-era law against him in September 2020. He was remanded in custody and found guilty last month.
He was the fifth person to be sentenced, with four others prosecuted under the same legislation pleading guilty without going to trial. Three were sentenced to jail and the other to correctional training.
