Hong Kong Man Wears ‘Seditious’ T-shirt, Imprisoned For 14 Months

Hong Kong: A 27-year-old Hong Kong man, Chu Kai-pong, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for wearing a T-shirt and mask featuring protest slogans deemed "seditious." This marks the first conviction under the newly enacted local national security law, known as Article 23, which expands upon legislation imposed by Beijing in 2020.

Chu was arrested on June 12, the anniversary of a significant day in the 2019 protests, while wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times," and a mask that read "FDNOL," short for "Five demands, not one less." Both slogans were prevalent during the anti-government demonstrations that swept the city in 2019.

In court, it was revealed that Chu was also carrying a box containing his excrement, intended as a provocative gesture against those opposed to his views. He had previously served three months in jail for wearing a similar T-shirt and possessing offensive items.

Chief Magistrate Victor So emphasized that Chu intended to "reignite the ideas behind" the protests and noted his lack of remorse after a previous conviction. The maximum penalty under the new law for such offenses is 10 years in prison.

Critics of the national security law argue that it poses a threat to civil liberties in Hong Kong, while supporters claim it is essential for maintaining stability.