A group of former University of Hong Kong student union members, including 22-year-old Charles Kwok, were handed a 2-year jail term by the District Court for inciting others to harm police officers. The charges stemmed from their support for a man who stabbed a policeman, leading to his own demise. District Court Judge Adriana Noelle Tse Ching emphasized the gravity of their offense, stating that a lenient sentence would send the wrong message to society.
Originally facing charges under Hong Kong’s national security law for advocating terrorism, the students ultimately admitted to the lesser charge of incitement to wound with intent. Beijing introduced the national security law in 2020, following a wave of anti-government protests. Critics view the law as a tool of repression, while Chinese and Hong Kong authorities maintain that it has reinstated stability following the 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations.
