‘Do not test the law’: Hong Kong’s John Lee warns national security prisoners will find it hard to get early release after Article 23 legislation

City leader says sentences will only be reviewed if correctional services commissioner believes reduction is not detrimental to national security

‘This is exactly what I want to tell the public: do not try to do any behaviour or activities that endanger national security … do not try to test the law,’ he adds

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Chief Executive John Lee (right) has urged the public not to attempt any behaviour or activities that endanger national security. Photo: Elson Li

Published: 2:48pm, 26 Mar 2024Updated: 6:21pm, 26 Mar 2024

Prisoners convicted of national security offences will find it hard to be granted early release because of how serious their crimes are, Hong Kong’s leader has said, warning the public “not to test” the city’s laws after the enactment of the new Article 23 legislation.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu issued the warning on Tuesday, a day after sources confirmed that activist Adam Ma Chun-man did not get the early release normally granted for good behaviour in prison.

Ma, known as the “second-generation Captain America” for dressing as the Marvel character during the 2019 anti-government protests, was the first to be affected by the changes stipulated in the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

The new legislation, mandated under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, stipulates that a prisoner convicted of national security offences “must not be granted remission” unless the commissioner of correctional services is satisfied the move will not compromise national security.

Adam Ma speaks to the press in a Mong Kok shopping centre on October 1, 2020. The jailed activist is known as the “second-generation Captain America” for dressing as the Marvel character during the 2019 unrest. Photo: Brian Wong

It covers those jailed under the national security law imposed by Beijing in June 2020.