HONG KONG — A Hong Kong court sentenced a protester to nine years in prison on Friday for terrorism and inciting secession, the first demonstration of the teeth of a sweeping new national security law aimed at those who might speak out against Beijing. The protester, Tong Ying-kit, had faced up to life in prison after being convicted this week. The case against Mr. Tong, who crashed a motorcycle into police officers while flying a protest flag, was the first brought under the security law, which was imposed last year on Hong Kong by China’s central government. The collision with the police complicates any analysis of how the courts used the national security law to punish peaceful dissent. is not merely to punish but also to prevent and deter others,” said Surya Deva, an associate professor of law at City University of Hong Kong, using an abbreviation for the national security law.

Source: New York Times July 30, 2021 07:13 UTC