Hong Kong journalist arrested on sedition charge

Hong Kong police have arrested an independent journalist on suspicion of committing seditious acts under the city’s 2024 national security law, accusing him of spreading disinformation intended to incite hatred against the government and police.

Tang Ho-wing, founder of online outlet Boom News, was detained on Wednesday morning (30 September), Hong Kong outlet Sing Tao reported, displaying a photo of the alleged arrest. The arrest is linked to its coverage of an August 31 gathering outside Prince Edward MTR station marking the seventh anniversary of a 2019 clash between anti-government protesters and police, in which protesters claimed some were killed.

Boom News, with more than 66,000 Instagram followers, posted a video featuring a woman’s account of the 2019 events. Police said on Wednesday rumours of deaths during the clash were baseless, and the arrests stemmed from people carrying flowers, chanting banned slogans and allegedly spreading disinformation intended to incite hatred against the government and police.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of seditious acts; police did not name them, but the South China Morning Post identified the second as activist Lee Ying-chi. Six others previously arrested in connection with the same offence were later released on bail.

Hong Kong journalists face mounting restrictions under Beijing’s 2020 national security law and a reinforced local 2024 statute. In February, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while several of his former staff received sentences ranging from nearly seven to 10 years.

Sources

• Al Jazeera: Hong Kong journalist arrested on sedition charge