A Hong Kong court is set to announce a verdict on Thursday for two former editors of Stand News, a now-defunct news outlet, in a case that is being closely watched as a gauge of media freedom in the city. The former editor-in-chief and acting editor-in-chief were arrested in December 2021 and charged with conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious publications, marking Hong Kong's first sedition trial involving media since the city's return to Chinese rule in 1997.
Stand News, known for its critical stance against the government, was forced to shut down following a crackdown on dissent that followed the 2019 pro-democracy protests. The editors face charges under a colonial-era sedition law, with potential penalties of up to two years in prison and a fine for a first offense.
The trial, which began in October 2022, revolves around 17 articles published by Stand News, including stories featuring pro-democracy figures and commentaries critical of the national security law. Prosecutors accused the articles of promoting illegal ideologies and smearing law enforcement.
The case has drawn significant public interest, with residents lining up early to attend the hearing. Many expressed concerns about the loss of critical voices in the city's media landscape following the closure of Stand News and another independent news outlet. The deteriorating media environment in Hong Kong has led to a decline in press freedom rankings, with the city now placed 135th out of 180 territories in the World Press Freedom Index.
The defendants have maintained that Stand News was not a political platform but a platform for free speech. They emphasized the importance of protecting freedom of speech, arguing that it should be used to combat dangerous ideas rather than restricted in the name of eradicating them.
Despite the government's assurances that press freedom is upheld in Hong Kong, concerns persist among journalists and media professionals about increasing self-censorship and the impact of new security laws on the media landscape.
