Hong Kong court denies early release for student leader jailed for praising attack on police

Application by Kinson Cheung dismissed after commissioner of correctional services and national security committee argue against his early release

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Prison authorities say Kinson Cheung has not shown genuine remorse for his crime. Photo: Brian Wong

Published: 4:29pm, 24 Sep 2024Updated: 7:40pm, 24 Sep 2024

A Hong Kong court has dismissed an application for early release from prison by a former university student leader convicted over praising a 2021 knife attack on a police officer, after objections over his remission were raised by prison authorities and a government committee in charge of national security.

The commissioner of correctional services submitted a written report to the Court of First Instance on Tuesday stating that Kinson Cheung King-sang should not be granted any remission given he had not “deeply reflected” on his crime or showed genuine remorse.

Cheung, a former student union council chairman of the University of Hong Kong, had applied for a writ of habeas corpus on September 21 arguing for early release.

Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal reduced Cheung’s original sentence of two years in jail to 15 months, calling it “manifestly excessive” while stressing Cheung’s act of inciting violence remained “very serious”.

The prison authorities’ report was submitted after a ruling by the Committee for Safeguarding National Security, chaired by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, which stated that giving Cheung early release would not benefit Hong Kong’s national security.