Leon Tong Ying-kit, a former restaurant cook, could face life in prison for charges of terrorism and secession.
Hong Kong — In an historic ruling, a 24-year-old man became the first person convicted in Hong Kong under China’s expansive and contentious national security law on Tuesday. Leon Tong Ying-kit, a former restaurant cook, volunteered as a medic during the 2019 pro-democracy protests that rocked the city. He was convicted of terrorism and secession and faces a possible sentence of life in prison. Police arrested Tong on July 1, 2020, just hours after China’s national security law came into effect. He was riding a motorcycle through the streets of the city, displaying a black flag that fluttered in the wind with the slogan, “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times.” He then crashed into a group of policemen. Tong claims he tried to avoid hitting them. Critics say China’s law, which was tailor-made to bring Hong Kong’s massive pro-democracy movement to heel.
