Hong Kong’s top court rejects challenge to law banning calls for election boycotts

Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal has rejected a legal challenge to a law that prohibits calls for boycotting the city's elections. The court ruled on Wednesday that criminalizing incitement to undermine elections is necessary to counter organized campaigns that aim to destabilize the establishment, particularly following the national security law's enactment. The five judges unanimously found this prohibition essential for Beijing's goal of ensuring governance by "patriots" under the "one country, two systems" policy. The challenge was brought by former student union president Jacky So Tsun-fung, who contended the law violated freedom of expression and equality rights.