Hong Kong's High Court dismissed the first legal challenge to the city's national security laws on Friday, upholding the government's position against sentence remission for national security offenders. The case was brought by Ma Chun-man, also known as "Captain America 2.0," who is serving a five-year sentence for "inciting secession" under the 2020 Beijing-imposed National Security Law (NSL).

Ma sought a one-third sentence remission for good behavior, which would have allowed his release in March. However, the newly enacted second national security law barred such remissions for those convicted of national security crimes. Ma challenged this denial, arguing that the definition of "national security interests" was too vague.

High Court judge Alex Lee, part of a special pool of judges handling security cases, ruled against Ma, stating the new system was clear enough and did not impose additional penalties. Lee added that there was no legal basis for Ma's judicial review.

The case highlights the tightened legal environment in Hong Kong, where the second NSL further restricts the rights of those convicted under the initial law. Prisoners can now only be considered for early release if the prison chief deems it not contrary to national security interests.

The ruling reflects the government's firm stance on national security, which Hong Kong officials argue is necessary to maintain order after the 2019 pro-democracy protests. However, Western nations and rights groups criticize the laws for curbing freedoms and suppressing dissent in the city.