HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s chief mentioned Tuesday that prisoners convicted for severe nationwide safety crimes would not going be granted early launch underneath the tightened guidelines of a brand new nationwide safety regulation, signaling a hardening authorities stance in opposition to jailed political activists.
Chief Government John Lee mentioned the Safeguarding Nationwide Safety Ordinance stipulates that individuals discovered responsible of endangering nationwide safety should not be granted remission except the commissioner of correctional companies believes the transfer wouldn’t be a nationwide safety danger. This additionally applies to inmates who obtained sentences earlier than the brand new regulation was launched final Saturday, Lee mentioned.
Beforehand, inmates may have their jail sentences lowered by as much as one-third for good conduct underneath town’s jail guidelines, offered they had been serving phrases longer than one month.
At a weekly press briefing, Lee urged residents to not defy the regulation.
“We’d like to verify everybody understands that if somebody was convicted of great nationwide safety offenses, usually there wouldn’t be remission of sentence,” he mentioned.
Lee’s feedback got here after native media, together with the South China Morning Publish, reported that the early launch of activist Ma Chun-man, which had been scheduled for Monday, was blocked underneath the brand new nationwide safety regulation. The remission had been granted on account of his good conduct and the blockage was the primary of its variety, in accordance with the stories, which cited unnamed sources.
The revised observe is anticipated to have an effect on different activists who’re jailed or present process trials underneath an identical sweeping safety regulation imposed by Beijing 4 years in the past to quell huge anti-government protests in 2019.
The Related Press couldn’t independently confirm Ma’s case.
Ma was serving a five-year time period for inciting secession underneath the 2020 safety regulation. He was convicted in 2021 for repeatedly advocating for Hong Kong’s independence.
On the press briefing, Lee didn’t verify Ma’s case when requested about it however mentioned the commissioner handles circumstances in accordance with the regulation. He mentioned anybody who disagrees with the commissioner’s dealing with of a case can search to resolve the matter by way of authorized means.
In an emailed response to the AP, the correctional companies division refused to touch upon particular person circumstances. However it mentioned the commissioner would take into account all related elements, together with inmates’ statements, on a case-by-case foundation to make sure all circumstances are dealt with pretty.
The brand new nationwide safety regulation was unanimously handed in an expedited legislative course of final week, deepening worries over an extra erosion of town’s freedoms. Western governments, together with america, have criticized the laws.
As of Tuesday, authorities haven’t introduced any arrests underneath the brand new regulation, which they are saying balances safety with safeguarding rights and freedoms. In addition they say the laws was wanted to maintain town protected in opposition to “potential sabotage” and “undercurrents that attempt to create troubles.”
