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Fiona Chow

Hong Kong’s District Court has sentenced two men with autism to up to three years and two months in prison for their involvement in a pro-independence group seeking to separate the city from Chinese sovereignty.
District Judge Ernest Lin Kam-hung on Thursday found that courier Chan Tai-sum, 27, and waiter Ng Chi-tung, 25, had been deeply involved in the Taiwan-based Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union between November 2024 and July 2025.
He said the pair had jointly devised a “full plan” to advance the group’s objectives, although it had not been carried out.
Founded by a fugitive, the union advocates Hong Kong’s “liberation” from mainland Chinese rule, seeks international recognition for a self-proclaimed “Hong Kong Parliament” and calls for the establishment of an army to “restore and defend” the city.
Both defendants had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit secession.
Judge Lin said the pair had served as advisers within the organisation. Chan was responsible for designing promotional materials, establishing ties with foreign organisations and compiling personal data on police officers and their families.
Ng advised on policy matters, including proposals for a new “national flag” for Hong Kong, a ban on certain media outlets and the execution of government officials.
“If such behaviour is tolerated, it could trigger an uncontrollable chain reaction that might plunge Hong Kong back into the unrest of 2019,” Judge Lin said.

Defence lawyers said in mitigation that the pair had been diagnosed with autism and had difficulty socialising in real life. They said the disorder had influenced them when they committed the offence.
When the defendants were arrested in July 2025, police searched Ng’s home and seized 19 flags bearing slogans associated with separatist movements in Tibet, Xinjiang and Guangdong province.
Lin noted that Ng’s developmental condition did not appear to have reduced his active participation in political activities, as evidence showed that he knew such advocacy was illegal.
Although Ng told police that he had joined the scheme “out of curiosity”, while sharing the group’s pro-independence views, the judge rejected the claim that he was merely curious.
Chan served a one-year prison term in 2022 for sedition and incitement.
His defence counsel said he had felt ostracised by society after his release and had struggled to move on.
The judge described him as a repeat offender who had failed to learn his lesson.
“Apparently, the previous sentence bore no deterrent effect on him,” he said.
Lin imposed a heavier sentence on Chan than on his co-defendant.
After granting sentence reductions for their timely guilty pleas, he sentenced Chan to 38 months in prison and Ng to 36 months.


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News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Judge says pair, acting as advisers, devised ‘full plan’ to advance goals of Taiwan-based group calling for Hong Kong’s independence


Judge says pair, acting as advisers, devised ‘full plan’ to advance goals of Taiwan-based group calling for Hong Kong’s independence.


Hong Kong national security law (NSL)

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong protests

China

2 men jailed for up to 38 months over pro-independence group’s secession plot

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Judge says pair, acting as advisers, devised ‘full plan’ to advance goals of Taiwan-based group calling for Hong Kong’s independence

Judge says pair, acting as advisers, devised ‘full plan’ to advance goals of Taiwan-based group calling for Hong Kong’s independence