Two jailed 36 and 38 months over secession plot
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Two men who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit secession under the Hong Kong national security law were sentenced at the District Court on September 10 after being linked to the pro-independence Hong Kong Democratic Independence Alliance. The court imposed prison terms of 36 months and 38 months on the pair, both of whom were reported to have autism and had earlier said they joined the group either to seek political asylum abroad or out of curiosity.
Key Points
- The defendants were 27-year-old courier Chan Tai-sam (陳泰森) and 25-year-old waiter Ng Chi-tung (伍始東), who both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit secession.
- The charge said they conspired in Hong Kong between November 6, 2024 and July 9, 2025 to organize, plan, implement or participate in acts aimed at separating Hong Kong or other parts of China from the country
- The case centered on the Hong Kong Democratic Independence Alliance, which CRHK said was founded by wanted national security suspect Keung Ka-wai, while police alleged the group promoted Hong Kong independence
- According to the court account, Chan joined Line group discussions from February to May 2025, suggesting ideas on the group name, logo, publicity materials and collecting personal data of police officers and their family members
- Police said material found on Chan's phone included logo drafts and two bilingual proposal drafts urging the United States to protect Hong Kong political prisoners and sanction Chinese and Hong Kong officials
Why It Matters
The sentencing adds to a growing body of completed national security prosecutions involving alleged participation in overseas-linked or online political organizing, and shows the courts treating support work such as drafting documents and discussion-group participation as part of a secession conspiracy. For Hong Kong readers, the case also underlines that mitigation based on personal motives such as curiosity or hopes of political asylum did not prevent immediate custodial terms.