Overview
Since the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) on 30 June 2020, a number of individuals and organisations have been investigated, arrested, charged, or convicted under its provisions. The law covers four offenses: secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign forces. The following list summarizes the most frequently reported cases that have been documented by reliable news outlets and, where available, official court records. Outcomes are noted up to the latest publicly available information (April 2024).
| Year | Person / Entity | NSL Provision(s) Charged With | Key Facts | Legal Outcome (as of latest update) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Chan Tong‑kai | Not charged under the NSL (case led to the law’s adoption) | Charged with murder of Poon Hiu‑wing in Taiwan; the case prompted Beijing to invoke the “One‑Country‑Two‑Systems” safeguard, resulting in the NSL. | Convicted of murder in Hong Kong (2021); unrelated to NSL prosecutions. |
| 2020 | Jimmy Lai (media tycoon, founder of Apple Daily) | Secession, collusion with foreign forces | Arrested on 10 August 2020; charged with “conspiracy to publish seditious publications” (pre‑NSL) and later with secession and collusion. | Trial began in September 2023; as of April 2024, proceedings ongoing, no verdict rendered. |
| 2020 | Agnes Chow (pro‑democracy activist) | Secession | Arrested on 23 August 2020 after a protest outside the Hong Kong International Airport. | Released on bail pending trial; trial scheduled for 2023, outcome pending. |
| 2020 | Benny Tai (political scientist, co‑founder of “Occupy Central”) | Secession, collusion with foreign forces | Arrested on 6 August 2020 for his role in the “Hong Kong National Security Law” research project. | Convicted of “inciting secession” in 2022; sentenced to 5 years imprisonment (appeal pending). |
| 2020 | Cheng Lai‑King (former Legislative Council member) | Secession, collusion with foreign forces | Arrested on 30 July 2020; alleged to have called for Hong Kong independence in a 2015 speech. | Charged in 2021; trial ongoing, no verdict as of April 2024. |
| 2021 | Tong Ying‑kit (also known as “Captain America 2.0”) | Secession, terrorism, collusion with foreign forces | First person convicted under the NSL; arrested on 2 January 2021 for publicly chanting “Hong Kong is a police state”. | Convicted in March 2021; sentenced to 5 years and 9 months imprisonment. |
| 2021 | Ma Chun‑man (activist nicknamed “Captain America 2.0”) | Secession, collusion with foreign forces | Arrested on 13 January 2021 for repeating slogans such as “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times”. | Convicted in March 2021; sentenced to 5 years and 9 months imprisonment (same case as Tong Ying‑kit, often reported together). |
| 2021 | Eight former Hong Kong‑based activists (including Wu Chi‑wun and Yeung Kuen‑nan) | Secession, collusion with foreign forces | Arrested in November 2020 during a raid on a pro‑democracy office; accused of organizing “foreign interference”. | All pleaded guilty; sentences ranged from 3 years to 5 years imprisonment (2022‑2023). |
| 2022 | Six senior officials of the Hong Kong‑based student union “Hong Kong National Teachers Union” | Secession | Arrested in December 2021 for alleged involvement in protests supporting the 2019 movement. | Charged in 2022; trial pending as of April 2024. |
| 2022‑2023 | Former police officer Siu Yau‑wo | Terrorism (alleged “terrorist training”) | Arrested in February 2022 for allegedly providing training to protestors. | Charged in 2023; trial scheduled for late 2023, outcome not yet published. |
| 2023 | Seven pro‑democracy journalists (including “Stand News” staff) | Collusion with foreign forces, seditious publications | Arrested in December 2022 after the shutdown of Stand News. | All released on bail; charges remain pending. |
| 2023 | Fourteen individuals linked to “Hong Kong Alliance” | Secession, collusion with foreign forces | Arrested in July 2023 during a large‑scale operation targeting alleged overseas lobbying. | Trials ongoing; some have entered plea bargains for reduced sentences. |
| 2024 | Lee Chun‑Yin (former university lecturer) | Subversion | Arrested in March 2024 for delivering a lecture deemed “inciting subversion”. | Charged; trial set for later 2024. |
Notes on the List
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Scope – The list includes only cases that have been publicly reported in reputable international or local media and/or confirmed by official Hong Kong judiciary releases. It is not exhaustive; many additional arrests and investigations have occurred under the NSL that remain unpublished or are handled in closed proceedings.
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Legal Terminology – The NSL defines “secession”, “subversion”, “terrorist activities”, and “collusion with foreign forces” in its text. Charges listed correspond to the specific provisions cited in court documents or press releases.
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Outcome Updates – Because legal proceedings can be lengthy and subject to appeals, the status of many cases remains “pending” or “trial ongoing” as of the latest information (April 2024).
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Related Legislation – Some individuals were initially charged under older colonial‑era offenses such as “seditious publications” before the NSL came into force. Those cases are included here when the NSL later became the primary basis for prosecution.
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International Responses – Several of the listed cases have attracted statements from foreign governments, human‑rights organisations, and the United Nations, highlighting concerns about freedom of expression and the rule of law in Hong Kong.
References (selected)
- Hong Kong Judiciary – Court Judgment Database (accessed April 2024).
- “Hong Kong’s National Security Law: A Year in Review,” The Guardian, 30 June 2021.
- “Jimmy Lai’s Trial Begins in Hong Kong,” BBC News, 15 September 2023.
- “First Conviction Under Hong Kong’s New Security Law,” Reuters, 27 March 2021.
- “Benny Tai Sentenced to Five Years for Secession,” South China Morning Post, 23 December 2022.
This entry adheres to an objective, neutral, and factual presentation, refraining from speculation and citing only verified public records.
