In a significant application of Hong Kong's controversial national security law, a young man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for wearing a T-shirt with the slogan 'Liberate Hong Kong.' This case marks the first conviction under the newly enacted security legislation, which was introduced as a response to ongoing protests in the region. The ruling has raised concerns about the harsh implications of the law, which threatens to impose severe penalties on individuals for seemingly benign expressions of dissent. Activists fear this will stifle free speech and further curtail civil liberties in Hong Kong.