A pro-democracy protester in Hong Kong has been sentenced to nine years in prison, after being the first person to be convicted under a new national security law.
The law, and the crackdown against pro-democracy activists are both seen as part of the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s tightening of control over the territory.
Tong Ying-kit, 24, was convicted of inciting secession and terrorism for driving his motorcycle into a group of police officers at a July 1, 2020, rally.
He carried a flag bearing the banned slogan, “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times.”
Beijing imposed the security law on the former British colony last year following anti-government protests that erupted in mid-2019.