Hong Kong hits out at BBC after report on jailing of political activists for 2019 rioting, says it smears national security law

The national security law was imposed in 2020, outlawing acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with offenders facing up to life imprisonment.

Saturday’s news report from the British Broadcasting Company covered the sentencing of Hong Kong actor Gregory Wong Chung-yiu, who was jailed for six years and two months for storming the Legco complex at the height of social unrest in 2019.

It also stated that the “protests led to the introduction of a tough security law that made it easier to prosecute protesters and reduced the city’s autonomy”.

The 45-year-old was among three political activists and 10 others who appeared at West Kowloon Court on charges of rioting and breaching the complex. Prison sentences handed down on Saturday ranged from more than four years to six years and eight months.

Hong Kong accuses top US diplomat in city of ‘scaremongering’ over security law

The government spokesman said authorities would continue to promptly refute any false accusations against the laws on safeguarding national security to prevent the public from being misled.