Hong Kong police charge man over allegedly writing words on bus seats with seditious intent

“Police investigation revealed that the arrested man was suspected of writing words with seditious intention on multiple occasions on the back of bus seats on different public buses in March and April,” police said.

“The contents provoked hatred towards central authorities and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.”

The force said the man was charged with three counts of “doing an act or acts with seditious intention” and two counts of “destroying or damaging property”.

Police said the suspect would be brought before West Kowloon Court on Tuesday afternoon.

The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was enacted earlier this year in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s main constitution.

Sedition is punishable by up to seven years in jail under the law, and a maximum of 10 years if the act involves collusion with an “external force”, such as a foreign government or organisation or anyone representing it.

The offence previously carried a maximum jail term of three years under Sections 9 and 10 of the colonial-era Crimes Ordinance, which have since been repealed.