Tong surprises with refusal to appeal

The first person to be convicted under the national security law and jailed for nine years in July has decided against an appeal, his lawyer said yesterday.

Waiter Tong Ying-kit, 24, was found guilty of terrorist activities and inciting secession, after driving his motorcycle into three riot policemen in 2020 while carrying a flag with protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our times."

After the high court handed down the landmark ruling, Tong had indicated through his lawyer, Clive Grossman, that he would appeal.

However, Grossman said yesterday that Tong, who pleaded not guilty, had decided not to appeal.

"I have no idea why," a surprised Grossman said.

Tong received a nine-year jail term after being convicted under the national security law imposed by the central government in June 2020, that punishes acts of subversion, terrorism, collusion with foreign forces and secession with possible life sentence.

At the end of Tong's trial, high court judges Esther Toh Lye-ping, Anthea Pang Po-kam and Wilson Chan Ka-shun ruled that the slogan on his motorbike was "capable of inciting others to commit secession."

Several other national security cases are pending, including 47 pro-democracy politicians and activists being charged for subversion.

Among them are Owen Chow Ka-shing, 24, who had his bail revoked after allegedly breaking the conditions of his bail.

He allegedly published remarks and took part in actions endangering national security while out on bail, and appeared in West Kowloon magistrates' court yesterday afternoon.

Acting chief magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen ordered him to be taken into custody. Chow has the right to appeal the revocation every eight days, and will appear in court with the other defendants on January 27.

Chow was arrested in February for subversion for participating in the pro-democracy camp's unofficial primary elections in July 2020, and was released on high court bail after custody of nearly four months.

He was arrested by police's national security officers on Wednesday.