First person charged under Hong Kong's national security law sentenced to 9 years in prison - CNN

All carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

As the sentencing was read out, some of Tong's supporters in the public gallery shed tears while others offered encouragement, telling him to "hang in there," to which Tong replied, "you guys also hang in there too."

Speaking outside the court, Tong's defense lawyer Clive Grossman said his client would appeal both the sentence and the verdict.

Tong's defense lawyers had previously asked for the minimum sentence of three years, arguing that Tong had been reckless but did not deliberately mean to crash into police, and that he had shown remorse for his actions.

However, in the conviction ruling on Tuesday, the three judges -- handpicked by the city's leader to oversee national security cases -- ruled that Tong's actions had caused "great harm to the society," and posed a "deliberate challenge to the police."

An alternative charge of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm was not considered.

Much of Tong's 15-day trial had hinged on the judge's interpretation of the protest flag he was carrying, with the prosecution and defense arguing over the semantics, history and context of the banner's slogan -- a common rallying call during the pro-democracy, anti-government protests of 2019.

On Tuesday, the judges made clear the slogan was "intended to communicate secessionist meaning" and was "capable of inciting others to commit secession," potentially laying the groundwork for future convictions related to the former mass protest movement.

A test case

As the first trial under the new legislation, Tong's case has been widely viewed as a litmus test for how the law will be implemented in court in the coming months.

Tong had pleaded not guilty to all charges, which stemmed from an incident on July 1, 2020, just one day after the law was enacted.