A Hong Kong court delivered today verdict in the sedition trial of Hong Kong online news outlet Stand News and two of its former chief editors.

The trial that began in October 2022 is just one of the many cases that symbolizes the increasing crackdown on press freedom in Hong Kong.

“Editors Chung Pui-kuen, 54, and Patrick Lam, 36, are the first journalists to be convicted of sedition since Britain handed Hong Kong over to China in 1997, and the ruling drew resounding international condemnation,” said AP.

This is the first time editors have been charged with sedition.

The non-profit digital news outlet Stand News ceased operations and deleted its website in Dec 2021 after its newsroom was raided by over 200 national security police officers.

Seven people connected to the independent outlet were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to “publish seditious publications.” However, only ex-chief editor Chung Pui-kuen, acting chief editor Patrick Lam and parent company Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Limited were charged under the anti-sedition law.

Al Jazeera.