On Thursday, a judge in Hong Kong sentenced two editors of Stand News, emphasizing the ongoing suppression of press freedoms in the city following increased governmental control. Chung Pui-kuen and his successor Patrick Lam were found guilty in August of conspiracy to publish materials deemed seditious. Chung received a sentence of 21 months, whereas Lam was sentenced to the time he spent in custody prior to being released on bail, which was just under a year.

The case against Stand News highlights a significant shift in Hong Kong's media landscape, where the publication was once a symbol of the freedoms that distinguished the territory from mainland China. Stand News was known for its investigative journalism that revealed government shortcomings and supported the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. Following the widespread protests against the government in 2019, Beijing imposed a stringent national security law, leading to the suppression of dissenting voices, although Stand News continued to advocate for pro-democracy perspectives through its articles and interviews.