Hong Kong police arrest eighth suspect in first sedition case under Article 23 national security law

A source confirmed the man was the maternal uncle of activist Chow Hang-tung. Both Chow Hang-tung and her mother, Medina Chow Lau, were also arrested last week.

The latest operation by the force’s National Security Department brings the tally of those arrested under the new law for allegedly committing “offences in connection with seditious intention” to eight. They comprise six women and two men, aged 37 to 65.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung confirmed last week that Chow was the one who was arrested and was still in remand for another offence.

Police said one of the women who had been remanded and arrested last Wednesday exploited an “upcoming sensitive date” to repeatedly make anonymous seditious posts on a social media platform with the help of at least seven arrestees since April of this year.

The force said the content of the posts provoked hatred towards the Beijing and Hong Kong governments and judicial authorities, and instigated internet users to organise or participate in related illegal activities at a later stage.

Police reiterated that offences in connection with seditious intention were serious crimes with a maximum penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment.

They should also educate students about the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance passed in March, and arrange for lessons to take place on school days to mark the fourth anniversary of the promulgation of the first, Beijing-imposed law.

“This can be done during morning assemblies, class teacher periods [and] talks in the school hall,” the circular read.

Teachers were told they should remind students to report cases of endangering national security to police and emphasise the law’s positive aspects, such as how it protected the city and the country.

“Of course, if we discover something that endangers the country, we can report it to relevant units such as the National Security Department’s reporting hotline to fulfil our citizen responsibilities. As the saying goes: National security is everyone’s responsibility,” the advisory explained.

Additional reporting by Olga Wong