Hong Kong student avoids jail for seditious graffiti in commercial complex toilet

A 19-year-old Hong Kong student, Leung Kai-lok, has avoided jail time for seditious acts under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. He was found guilty of inciting hatred towards authorities for writing anti-government messages in a commercial building toilet last year. West Kowloon Court on Wednesday sentenced Leung to 1½ years of probation, citing his good background, young age, and the limited impact of his offenses as exceptional circumstances. Although he avoided a custodial sentence, Leung had been incarcerated for four weeks prior to his sentencing. This marks a potential first instance of a defendant avoiding jail for violating the domestic national security law.