A Hong Kong court convicted a former waiter of terrorism and inciting secession on Tuesday in the first trial conducted under a national security law that was imposed by China to stamp out dissent.

The watershed ruling lays down a new marker in the city's changing legal landscape and confirms certain slogans are now outlawed in the international finance hub.&nbsp;

Tong Ying-kit, 24, was charged with terrorism for driving a motorbike into three police officers and secession for flying a protest flag during a rally on July 1 last year, the day after the national security law was enacted.

The flag read "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times", a ubiquitous slogan during the huge and often violent pro-democracy protests that convulsed the city two years ago.

The 15-day trial was heard without a jury -- a significant departure from Hong Kong's common law tradition -- and was decided by three judges handpicked by the city's leader to try national security crimes.

In a written ruling, the judges said the flag's slogan was "capable of inciting others to commit secession".

The charge of terrorism was met because crashing his motorbike into police officers "seriously jeopardised public safety or security".

Tong will be sentenced at a later date, and faces up to life in prison.

The ruling has profound implications for future national security cases.

More than 60 people have been charged under the law, including some of the city's best-known democracy activists such as Jimmy Lai, owner of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper.

Most are now in jail awaiting trial.

Slogan now illegal?

Legal analysts said Tuesday's ruling showed Hong Kong's judiciary is adopting a broad interpretation of the security law and that the courts would become more like those in authoritarian mainland China, especially for political cases.

"The whole system, from the administration to the law enforcement to the judiciary, has reached an alignment," Eric Lai, an expert on Hong Kong's legal system at Georgetown Law School, told AFP.

Surya Deva, an expert at City University of Hong Kong's law school, told AFP that "all institutions and legal processes will be geared to achieve certain pre-defined outcomes" in national security-related cases.

In mainland China, opaque courts answer to the Communist Party and conviction is all but guaranteed, especially in political or national security cases.

Hong Kong maintains an internationally respected common law system that is the bedrock of its business-hub status.

Days of Tong's trial were spent on the flag, with university professors called by both sides to explain the slogan's meaning.

Defence experts argued the slogan meant many things to different people in what was a leaderless protest movement that included a broad spectrum of views, from people advocating genuine independence to those wanting greater democracy and police accountability.

The prosecution argued that the slogan had clear separatist connotations and that Tong's decision to drive his bike into the police met the security law's definition of terrorism.

Legal firewall toppled

Tong's case was unusual in that he was one of the only people arrested under the security law who was accused of an explicitly violent act.&nbsp;

The vast majority of those awaiting prosecution were arrested for expressing political views that authorities say are now illegal.

Democracy activists and many Western nations say the security law is reshaping Hong Kong in China's authoritarian image.

China says it was needed to restore stability after 2019's protests.

The security law has since radically transformed the political and legal landscape of the city, which China promised could keep key liberties and autonomy after its 1997 return from British colonial rule.

China has jurisdiction over some cases, toppling Hong Kong's legal firewall, and has allowed its security agents to operate openly in the city for the first time.

It also allows for cases to be tried by judges instead of juries and bail is largely denied for those arrested.

Tong pleaded not guilty to all charges and did not take the stand during the trial.

A Hong Kong court convicted a former waiter of terrorism and inciting secession on Tuesday in the first trial conducted under a national security law that was imposed by China to stamp out dissent.

A Hong Kong court convicted a former waiter of terrorism and inciting secession on Tuesday in the first trial conducted under a national security law that was imposed by China to stamp out dissent. The watershed ruling lays down a new marker in the city's changing legal landscape and confirms certain slogans are now outlawed in the international finance hub. Tong Ying-kit, 24, was charged with terrorism for driving a motorbike into three police officers and secession for flying a protest flag during a rally on July 1 last year, the day after the national security law was enacted. The flag read "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times", a ubiquitous slogan during the huge and often violent pro-democracy protests that convulsed the city two years ago. The 15-day trial was heard without a jury -- a significant departure from Hong Kong's common law tradition -- and was decided by three judges handpicked by the city's leader to try national security crimes. In a written ruling, the judges said the flag's slogan was "capable of inciting others to commit secession". The charge of terrorism was met because crashing his motorbike into police officers "seriously jeopardised public safety or security". Tong will be sentenced at a later date, and faces up to life in prison. The ruling has profound implications for future national security cases. More than 60 people have been charged under the law, including some of the city's best-known democracy activists such as Jimmy Lai, owner of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper. Most are now in jail awaiting trial. Slogan now illegal? Legal analysts said Tuesday's ruling showed Hong Kong's judiciary is adopting a broad interpretation of the security law and that the courts would become more like those in authoritarian mainland China, especially for political cases. "The whole system, from the administration to the law enforcement to the judiciary, has reached an alignment," Eric Lai, an expert on Hong Kong's legal system at Georgetown Law School, told AFP. Surya Deva, an expert at City University of Hong Kong's law school, told AFP that "all institutions and legal processes will be geared to achieve certain pre-defined outcomes" in national security-related cases. In mainland China, opaque courts answer to the Communist Party and conviction is all but guaranteed, especially in political or national security cases. Hong Kong maintains an internationally respected common law system that is the bedrock of its business-hub status. Days of Tong's trial were spent on the flag, with university professors called by both sides to explain the slogan's meaning. Defence experts argued the slogan meant many things to different people in what was a leaderless protest movement that included a broad spectrum of views, from people advocating genuine independence to those wanting greater democracy and police accountability. The prosecution argued that the slogan had clear separatist connotations and that Tong's decision to drive his bike into the police met the security law's definition of terrorism. Legal firewall toppled Tong's case was unusual in that he was one of the only people arrested under the security law who was accused of an explicitly violent act. The vast majority of those awaiting prosecution were arrested for expressing political views that authorities say are now illegal. Democracy activists and many Western nations say the security law is reshaping Hong Kong in China's authoritarian image. China says it was needed to restore stability after 2019's protests. The security law has since radically transformed the political and legal landscape of the city, which China promised could keep key liberties and autonomy after its 1997 return from British colonial rule. China has jurisdiction over some cases, toppling Hong Kong's legal firewall, and has allowed its security agents to operate openly in the city for the first time. It also allows for cases to be tried by judges instead of juries and bail is largely denied for those arrested. Tong pleaded not guilty to all charges and did not take the stand during the trial.

Hong Kong court convicts man in first national security trial

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it.

For Congress, national security and defence sector is either a punching bag or a funding source. On one hand, the leaders called Army chief names and mocked surgical strikes, Modi said.

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PM Modi in interaction with BJP booth-level workers from Tamil Nadu: to Bofors in the 80s to the Augusta scam &amp; the submarine scam, among many others. All they see are ways to make money, even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished. Thankfully those days are gone. 2/2 <a href="https://t.co/Suye8EtGU7">pic.twitter.com/Suye8EtGU7</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1073939169284517888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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''The Congress looted the defence sector from the jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to the Bofors in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others,'' he added.

The Prime Minister was interacting with the booth-level workers from Tamil Nadu earlier today.

"All they see is the way to make money even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished," Modi said.

"We are proud of our forces and have faith in them," the Prime Minister said.

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PM Modi: Sadly, for Congress, national security &amp; defence sector is either a punching bag or a funding source. On one hand, the leaders called Army chief names &amp; mocked surgical strikes. On the other, they looted the defence sector, from the jeep scam back in the 40s &amp; 50s, (1/2) <a href="https://t.co/4K2NxnW5sj">pic.twitter.com/4K2NxnW5sj</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1073939166356955136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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''Our government had the honour to fulfil the demand of One Rank One Pension that was lying unattended for 40 years. Previous government after much persuasion left mere Rs 500 crore aside for OROP which was nothing short of a cruel joke,'' Modi said.&nbsp;

His jibe at the Congress came after Gandhi accused him of shaping the Army's surgical strike across the LoC into a "political asset" and being "unsuccessful" in creating job opportunities for the youth.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it. For Congress, national security and defence sector is either a punching bag or a funding source. On one hand, the leaders called Army chief names and mocked surgical strikes, Modi said. PM Modi in interaction with BJP booth-level workers from Tamil Nadu: to Bofors in the 80s to the Augusta scam & the submarine scam, among many others. All they see are ways to make money, even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished. Thankfully those days are gone. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/Suye8EtGU7 — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 × ''The Congress looted the defence sector from the jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to the Bofors in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others,'' he added. The Prime Minister was interacting with the booth-level workers from Tamil Nadu earlier today. "All they see is the way to make money even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished," Modi said. "We are proud of our forces and have faith in them," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi: Sadly, for Congress, national security & defence sector is either a punching bag or a funding source. On one hand, the leaders called Army chief names & mocked surgical strikes. On the other, they looted the defence sector, from the jeep scam back in the 40s & 50s, (1/2) pic.twitter.com/4K2NxnW5sj — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 × ''Our government had the honour to fulfil the demand of One Rank One Pension that was lying unattended for 40 years. Previous government after much persuasion left mere Rs 500 crore aside for OROP which was nothing short of a cruel joke,'' Modi said. His jibe at the Congress came after Gandhi accused him of shaping the Army's surgical strike across the LoC into a "political asset" and being "unsuccessful" in creating job opportunities for the youth.

National security is a punching bag for Congress, says PM Modi

BJP national secretary Ram Madhav&#39;s Twitter account has also been hacked.&nbsp;

The incident followed shortly after veteran actor <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/anupam-khers-hacked-twitter-account-is-now-back-to-normal-31979">Anupam Kher&#39;s account was hacked</a> and later restored.&nbsp;

According to reports Turkish &#39;pro-Pakistan&#39; group is behind Madhav&#39;s hacked account. The group is also believed to be behind the manipulation of Anupam Kher&#39;s and Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta&#39;s Twitter account.&nbsp;

Madhav and Kher&#39;s Twitter pages had retweeted posts in Turkish that also featured the emoji of Turkey&#39;s flag.&nbsp;

Economist Kaushik Basu&#39;s Twitter account was also compromised and later restored.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Twitter has apologised in an official statement stating, &quot;Our teams are working to resolve an issue affecting a small number of Indian users. We will notify affected account holders directly.&quot;

The social networking giant has also urged users not to click on links in &#39;direct messages&#39;&nbsp;coming from unknown accounts.

Kher previously noted that he received a link from Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta in a direct message on Monday.

The incident followed shortly after veteran actor Anupam Kher's account was hacked and later restored

BJP national secretary Ram Madhav's Twitter account has also been hacked. The incident followed shortly after veteran actor Anupam Kher's account was hacked and later restored. According to reports Turkish 'pro-Pakistan' group is behind Madhav's hacked account. The group is also believed to be behind the manipulation of Anupam Kher's and Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta's Twitter account. Madhav and Kher's Twitter pages had retweeted posts in Turkish that also featured the emoji of Turkey's flag. Economist Kaushik Basu's Twitter account was also compromised and later restored. Meanwhile, Twitter has apologised in an official statement stating, "Our teams are working to resolve an issue affecting a small number of Indian users. We will notify affected account holders directly." The social networking giant has also urged users not to click on links in 'direct messages' coming from unknown accounts. Kher previously noted that he received a link from Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta in a direct message on Monday.

Ram Madhav, Anupam Kher's Twitter accounts hacked

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