HK Court Orders 5 Teens Jailed For 3 Years For Staging 'Armed Revolution'

Five teenagers with a Hong Kong group advocating independence from Chinese rule were ordered by a judge on Saturday to serve up to three years in detention at a correctional facility, for urging an “armed revolution” in a national security case, Reuters reported.

Photo Insert: Beijing has become known for extreme action of this nature, especially since the adoption of China's national security law.

The five, some of whom were minors aged between 15 and 18 at the time of the alleged offense, had pleaded guilty to “inciting others to subvert state power” through a group named “Returning Valiant.”

Sentences for two more, ages 21 and 26, will be delivered at a later date.

Justice Kwok Wai-kin detailed how the defendants had advocated a “bloody revolution” to overthrow the Chinese state at street booths, and on Instagram and Facebook after the adoption of a sweeping, China-imposed national security law.

Kwok called the alleged incitement a serious crime, but nevertheless took into account their “age and immaturity” as he sentenced them to a training center, or detention facility for young people, rather than jail, CNN also reported.

The length of stay, capped at three years, is left to correctional authorities to decide. “Even if only one person is incited by them, the social stability of Hong Kong and the safety of residents may be seriously endangered,” Kwok added.

“There’s no evidence to directly prove that anyone was incited by the defendants to subvert state power, but this real risk exists.”

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic