Three Hong Kong press freedom defenders sentenced to prison in landmark trial

Three leading Hong Kong press freedom advocates were sentenced to prison on 19 November 2024, marking a grim development in the ongoing crackdown under Hong Kong’s National Security Law.

Media founder Frankie Fung received a sentence of four years and five months, former journalist Gwyneth Ho was sentenced to seven years, and Claudia Mo, a former legislator and journalist, was sentenced to four years and two months.

The trial, part of the case against 47 pro-democracy activists, represents the largest prosecution of its kind since the introduction of the sweeping National Security Law in 2020.

The three were convicted on charges including “conspiracy to subversion” and “subversion,” laws widely criticised for stifling dissent and press freedom.

The accused have been detained since February 2021. Their imprisonment highlights a broader crackdown on press freedom in Hong Kong, once a vibrant media hub.

Gwyneth Ho, a former journalist with the now-shuttered Stand News, had previously faced a six-month sentence for her participation in a Tiananmen Square commemoration.

Frankie Fung co-founded the DB Channel, an independent outlet forced to close amid the crackdown.

Claudia Mo, known for her work with global outlets such as Agence France-Presse and Radio Television Hong Kong, was also a prominent legislator advocating for press freedom.

In a statement, Cédric Alviani, the Asia-Pacific Bureau Director for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), condemned the sentences, describing them as a stark demonstration of the Hong Kong government’s disdain for the public’s right to information. He urged the international community to pressure Hong Kong and Beijing to release these prisoners immediately.

Since the enactment of the National Security Law, Hong Kong authorities have relentlessly targeted journalists and press advocates.

According to RSF, at least 28 individuals from media backgrounds have been prosecuted, with 11 currently in prison. High-profile detainees include Jimmy Lai, the founder of Apple Daily, who faces a potential life sentence in an ongoing trial.

The effects of the crackdown are evident in Hong Kong’s dramatic fall in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index, ranking 135th in 2024 compared to 18th two decades earlier. China, which controls Hong Kong’s policies, ranks 172nd out of 180 surveyed countries, holding the position of the world’s largest jailer of journalists.

This trial’s outcomes underscore the extent to which the National Security Law has reshaped Hong Kong’s political and media landscape. It further exemplifies the erosion of the “one country, two systems” framework meant to preserve freedoms in the region after its return to Chinese sovereignty.

The sentences have drawn widespread international criticism. Press freedom organisations and rights groups have repeatedly urged global governments to act against the deterioration of democratic rights in Hong Kong. These calls are expected to intensify as the legal battles for other detained journalists, including Jimmy Lai, continue.

As the verdicts reverberate globally, Hong Kong’s press freedom, once a hallmark of its identity, faces an uncertain future under the shadow of Beijing’s influence.