On 8 May 2025, Li Chun-kit, a 36-year-old bus technician in Hong Kong, was sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to sedition charges under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (Article 23). Between March 2024 and January 2025, Li published Facebook posts that criticized the police, judiciary, and government.
His posts included derogatory terms to describe the judiciary and the police. The court found these posts to have seditious intent, and although the offense carries a maximum sentence of seven years, Chief Magistrate Victor So reduced Li’s sentence from 18 to 12 months due to his guilty plea.
The sentencing of Li Chun-kit for Facebook posts that, while provocative, fall within the realm of political expression, reflects a shrinking tolerance for dissent and a growing climate of fear. The fact that the posts were non-violent and did not incite direct action, yet still resulted in imprisonment, reveal the disproportionate nature of the harsh legal response.
This event also reinforces the chilling effect on public discourse and civic engagement, as individuals may increasingly self-censor to avoid prosecution.