Three men in Hong Kong were recently sentenced to prison under the new national security law for acts of protest that would have gone unnoticed in the past. The law, which aims to suppress dissent, marks a significant political shift in the city. The legislation, known as the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, targets offenses like treason and insurrection, with penalties including life imprisonment. The three men were convicted under the ordinance for acts such as wearing a protest slogan on a T-shirt, graffiti on public bus seats, and criticizing the government on social media. These convictions are the first under the new law, reflecting a crackdown on public opposition to Beijing. Legal experts warn that even mild criticism of the government now carries risks in Hong Kong.