The District Court of Hong Kong convicted activists Gregory Wong, Ng Chi-yung, Ho Chun-yin and Lam Kan-kwan on Feb. 2 over "rioting" at the Legislative Council Complex on July 1, 2019. The "riot" occurred on the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, and took place in the broader context of the 2019 Hong Kong protests. The four activists pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody. They will be sentenced on March 16. (Jurist)

Activist Tang Kai-yin pleaded guilty Feb. 14 to "perverting the course of justice" at Hong Kong's District Court. Tang attempted to flee Hong Kong for Taiwan via speedboat in August 2020, while facing charges over the 2019 protests. (Jurist) 

The Hong Kong government released the new national security bill on March 8 and sent it to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for deliberation. The bill criminalizes new offenses, including treason, insurrection and incitement of Chinese armed force members to mutiny, that could result in life imprisonment upon conviction. (Jurist)

Hong Kong's Court of Appeal upheld activist Tam Tak-chi's sedition convictions on March 7, and refused to grant him leave to appeal his convictions. The District Court of Hong Kong sentenced Tam in April 2022 to 40 months in prison. (Jurist)

Hong Kong's Legislative Council waived the 12-day prior notice requirement under the Notice of Motions and Amendments to resume the second reading of the new local security bill upon Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang’s request in a letter to the Legislative Council’s House Committee on Marc 15. (Jurist)

The Hong Kong District Court on March 16 sentenced 12 activists for "rioting," with terms ranging from 54 months to 82 months. Prominent actor  Gregory Wong received 74 months. (Jurist, BBC News)

The Hong Kong Legislative Council unanimously approved the new Safeguarding National Security Bill on March 19. The bill will be gazetted and take effect March 23. Both Chief Executive John Lee and the LegCo president Andrew Leung similarly called passage of the bill an "historical moment" for Hong Kong.  (Jurist)

Hong Kong's recently enacted Safeguarding National Security Ordinance on March 26 blocked the first inmate's sentence remission under the Prison Rules. Ma Chun-man was about to finish serving his sentence that day, after receiving a remission of sentence on the grounds of good conduct pursuant to Rule 69 of the Prison Rules. However, the ordinance provides that prisoners must not be granted remission unless the Commissioner of Correctional Services is satisfied that the prisoner  being granted remission will not be contrary to national security interests.

Ma was convicted of incitement to secession under the 2020 National Security Law. In November 2021, Judge Stanley Chan held that the case was of a serious nature because the defendant was not remorseful for his repetitive act of incitement to secession. Chan further contended that the defendant demonstrated pride in his actions by naming himself "Captain America 2.0." (Jurist)

Radio Free Asia president Bay Fang announced March 29 that the news organization has closed its Hong Kong bureau and will "no longer have full-time personnel in Hong Kong" due to safety concerns after the enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

Fang cited recent statements by Hong Kong autorities. During the consultation period for te ordinance, HK Secretary for Security Chris Tang stated that RFA is financially supported by the US Congress and is terefore a "foreign force." RFA clarified that it is a private non-profit news outlet that receives a grant from the US Agency for Global Media. Fang ended her statement: "For our audiences in Hong Kong and mainland China, who rely on RFA's timely, uncensored journalism: rest assured, our programming and content will continue without disruption." (Jurist)

The District Court of Hong Kong sentenced Portuguese national and former president of the now-dissolved Hong Kong Independence Party Joseph John on April 11 to five years in prison for conspiring to incite others to secession under the China-imposed National Security Law. John is the first European citizen jailed under the law. (Jurist)

The Hong Kong Court of First Instance convicted 14 of 16 democracy activists of conspiring to commit "subversion" under Article 22(3) of the China-imposed National Security Law on May 30. They are among 47 activists collectively charged three years ago, known as the "Hong Kong 47." (Jurist, BBC News)

The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested a 62-year-old man on June 3 for "sedition." Another seven suspects were arrested on May 31, in a sweep carried out ahead of the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. They are charged under the new Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Security Secretary Tang Ping-keung confirmed that the eight suspects operated a social media page named "Chow Hang Tung Club." 

Local media outlet Witness HK reported that one of the suspects is Chow Hang Tung and the person who was arrested June 3 is Chow's uncle. Chow continues to be remanded in custody, while the other suspects have been released on bail. Previously, Chow was convicted of inciting others to participate in an unauthorized assembly and sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. (Jurist)

Beijing's Tiananmen Square saw increased security measures on June 4, the 35th anniversary of China's suppression of pro-democracy protests on the site. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, police arrested four individuals while thwarting efforts to commemorate the 1989 massacre. The Hong Kong activist known as "Grandma Wong" was among the arrested. Western diplomats meanwhile unexpectedly made an appearance at the former vigil site in Victoria Park. (Jurist, SCMP, SCMP)

Former UK judges Lord Collins of Mapesbury and Lord Sumption have reportedly resigned from their positions as judges in the Hong Kong Courts. The former UK Supreme Court justice Lord Sumption has, according to the Financial Times, promised to make a statement "in due course." (Jurist) 

In March 2022, the UK government announced that two of its Supreme Court judges will no longer sit on Hong Kong’s top court. UK Supreme Court President Lord Robert Reed and Lord Patrick Hodge resigned from their positions as non-permanent judges of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (HKCFA) over the threat to civil freedoms following passage if the National Security Law.

The Hong Kong Department of Justice ordered two convicted protesters to each pay over HK$1.7 million in damages on June 7, local media outlet Hong Kong Free Press said. In 2020, Leung Pak Tim and the other unnamed protester were convicted of rioting and causing grievous bodily harm with intent when they were participating in a riot that took place in 2019. (Jurist)

Former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Beverley McLachlin announced her retirement as a Non-Permanent Judge on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (HKCFA) on June 10. (Jurist)

Hong Kong's West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts sentenced activist Chu Kai-pong to 14 months in prison on Sept. 19 for sedition, according to local media. Chu was convicted upon pleading guilty to one count of sedition under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. He is the first to be convicted under the new ordinance.

Chu wore a shirt with the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" and a yellow mask with the letters "FDNOL," which stands for "Five Demands Not One Less," a slogan of the 2019 protest movement, when he was arrested on June 12. Hong Kong's High Court found in July 2021 that the phrase "Liberate Hong Kong" could incite secession.(Jurist)