HK leader says early prison release unlikely for national security offenders

Hong Kong’s leader John Lee said on Tuesday it would become “common practice” not to grant people convicted of national security offences early release from prison under the city’s new national security law.
Lee’s remarks at a weekly press conference came amid local media reports that activist Ma Chun-man was the first prisoner blocked from early release for good behaviour after the new law took force at the weekend.
The law, known as Article 23, covers new or updated offences including sedition, espionage and interference by external forces, sparking international criticism that some definitions are too vague and it could damage the Chinese-ruled city’s international financial hub credentials.
Ma, dubbed “Captain America 2.0” for wielding the comic book hero’s shield during the 2019 pro-democracy protests, was convicted in 2021 of inciting secession through his slogans, statements and placards under an earlier Beijing-imposed security law. He was sentenced to five years and nine months.