Founder and member of pro-independence group jailed for 5 years under Hong Kong’s national security law for inciting ‘armed revolution’
- Founder of Returning Valiant, Choi Wing-kit and member Chris Chan jailed for conspiracy to incite subversion
- Despite receiving no evidence that others had been incited by defendants, District Judge Kwok Wai-kin says case was of “serious nature”
The founder of a pro-independence group in Hong Kong was sentenced to five years in jail on Thursday, along with another member of the now-defunct outfit, under the national security law for inciting an “armed revolution” to overthrow the local and central governments.
The two were among seven defendants who were members of the Returning Valiant group, who all admitted conspiracy to incite subversion on a joint count last August and September.
Choi Wing-kit, the 21-year-old founder of the group, also pleaded guilty to possession of offensive weapons with intent and was given six months for that offence, with half of it running concurrently with his national security crime.
Despite receiving no evidence that others had been incited by the defendants, District Judge Kwok Wai-kin said the case was of a “serious nature”.
“The risk does exist. As long as some people, or even one person, have been incited to launch an armed revolution without a bottom line, it may bring great harm to the society,” Kwok said.
Article 23 of the national security law states that anyone who incites subversion “shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than five years but not more than 10 years” if the offence is of a serious nature.
Calling itself the “embers of revolution”, the 20-strong group was said to have organised 13 street booths and press conferences, as well as operated three social media accounts, between January and May 2021 with the goal of toppling Beijing and the Hong Kong administration.
