麻豆约拍

The democracy activist and media magnate Jimmy Lai has been charged under Hong Kong's controversial new national security law. He is the most high profile person to be charged under the law.

A verdict has also been handed down in the case of the young activist Tony Chung, who was convicted of desecrating the national flag and of unlawful assembly under the new law.

Journalist Bernice Chan is in Hong Kong says the law has had a chilling effect.

"It's practically shut down the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong right now. Just the fact that you could possibly be in jail for the rest of your life is a very scary prospect for a lot of people."

(Photo: Jimmy Lai arriving at a detention centre in handcuffs after being denied bail. Credit: EPA)