Hong Kong, Oct 1 (EFE).- Hong Kong police arrested independent political journalist Tang Ho-wing and activist Lee Ying-chi on Wednesday for alleged sedition, in an operation linked to the August commemoration of the massive 2019 pro-democracy protests.
Tang’s arrest marks the first known case against a member of the media under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, passed in March 2024 pursuant to Article 23 of the Basic Law.
This legislation punishes sedition with up to seven years in prison and severely penalizes offenses such as treason, insurrection, espionage, the disclosure of state secrets, and foreign interference.
The measure complements the National Security Law imposed directly by Beijing in 2020 following months of street protests, which carries penalties of up to life imprisonment for crimes of secession, subversion, or collusion with foreign forces.
According to a police statement, the operation relates to events on Aug. 31 outside the Prince Edward MTR station, where citizens laid flowers to commemorate a violent police raid on protesters and commuters in 2019.
Tang Ho-wing reportedly livestreamed the gathering on his digital platform, after which authorities accused the attendees of spreading «falsehoods» to incite hostility toward institutions.
The independent journalist, known on social media as Afro and with around 200,000 followers, has covered high-profile legal cases, such as the mass trial of 47 opposition figures and the trial of publisher Jimmy Lai.
His news outlet was also among the independent platforms subjected to inspections and forced tax advances, a maneuver the sector described as punishment before trial.
Meanwhile, Lee Ying-chi, a dentist and long-time collaborator with the League of Social Democrats, also took part in the Aug. 31 commemoration.
The activist had previously been among the first to be arrested under the new security law in May 2024 for alleged seditious social media posts linked to the commemoration of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association and the Committee to Protect Journalists demanded the release of those arrested and reported that, since 2020, authorities have detained 416 people and convicted 186 under national security legislation. EFE
msc/tw
