{
  "id": 17790015,
  "title": "Hong Kong’s first national security law convict among 4 released early, sources say",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/hong-kongs-first-national-security-law-convict-among-4-released-early",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-02T11:52:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post-hong-kong",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373012/hong-kongs-first-national-security-law-convict-among-4-released-early-sources-say"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a surprising turn of events, the first person convicted under Hong Kong's national security law and three other individuals linked to high-profile cases have been granted early release, according to sources cited by the South China Morning Post. Tong Ying-kit, sentenced to nine years in prison in July 2021 for inciting secession and engaging in terrorist activities, was released early after expressing regret for being misled by false information during the 2019 unrest.\n\nThe other convicts to benefit from early release were Cheung Kim-hung, the former publisher of Apple Daily, paralegal Chan Tsz-wah, and \"Hong Kong Story\" activist Andy Li Yu-hin. All three were part of the case involving Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. Chan was freed in June, Li in September, and Cheung was released on Sunday.\n\nCheung, 64, appeared on a Shenzhen study tour organized by Hong Kong's Correctional Services Department and expressed excitement about experiencing mainland China's autonomous driving technology. The department declined to comment on individual cases regarding early release.\n\nFollowing the enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance in 2024, Hong Kong has tightened the conditions for granting early release to national security prisoners. The commissioner of correctional services must ensure that early release does not compromise national security. The CSD reported that the mainland exchange visit was part of its \"Path to Rehabilitation\" program, aimed at reinforcing rehabilitated individuals' understanding of national security and their commitment to the rule of law.",
  "summary": "The first person convicted in Hong Kong under the Beijing-imposed national security law and three others jailed in related high-profile cases have been released early, the South China Morning Post has learned. Sources said Tong Ying-kit, who was sentenced in July 2021 to nine years in prison for inciting secession and engaging in terrorist activities, had been granted early release. The news…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "From Hong Kong to Israel: Golden Boy's mother raises 7 children with G-d at the center",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/from-hong-kong-to-israel-golden-boys-mother-raises-7-children-with-g",
        "published": "2026-11-02T13:17:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}