In this July 6, 2020 photo, Tong Ying-kit, who is accused of deliberately driving his motorcycle into a group of police officers on July 1, arrives in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

A Hong Kong court on Tuesday found the city’s first National Security Law defendant guilty of terrorism and incitement to secession.

According to article 24 and 21 of the National Security for Hong Kong, the terrorism offense can lead to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment while those guilty of incitement to secession are liable to up to 10 years in jail

A three-judge High Court panel tasked with handling NSL cases handed down its guilty verdict against defendant Leon Tong Ying-kit on Tuesday afternoon. 

According to article 24 and 21 of the law, the terrorism offense can lead to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment while those guilty of incitement to secession are liable to up to 10 years in jail.

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The judges who handled Tong’s case were Anthea Pang Po-kam, Esther Toh Lye-ping and Wilson Chan Ka-shun.

During a protest in Wan Chai on July 1 last year, Tong, now 24, drove his motorcycle into police cordons, crashing into three police officers. He also had with him a flag bearing the protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times".

The former waiter was arrested and charged. His case was first heard on June 23.

As of July 26, police have arrested 138 people on suspicion of endangering national security, and 76 of them were charged later. Three companies were also charged under the National Security Law, the Security Bureau said in reply to a query from the China Daily on Monday.

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