The Nationwide Safety Division of the Hong Kong Police Power arrested a 62-year-old man on Monday for alleged sedition. Along with the seven suspects arrested on Might 31, a complete of eight arrested suspects had been allegedly concerned in committing sedition, days earlier than the thirty fifth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests.
The police accused the suspects of committing offences in reference to a seditious intention, opposite to part 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Secretary for Safety Tang Ping-keung confirmed that the eight arrested suspects operated a social media web page named “Chow Hang Tung Club” with intentions to carry Chinese language and Hong Kong residents into hatred in opposition to the Chinese language central authorities, the Hong Kong SAR [HKSAR] authorities and the judicial authority of the HKSAR.
Native media, Witness HK, reported that one of many suspects is Chow Cling Tung and the one who was arrested on Monday is Chow’s uncle. Chow continues to be remanded in custody and different suspects have been launched on bail. Beforehand, Chow was convicted of inciting others to take part in an unauthorised meeting and sentenced to fifteen months imprisonment. Chow was additionally convicted of failing to adjust to a discover to offer info as a overseas agent beneath the China-imposed National Security Law. Presently, Chow is making use of for leave to appeal to the Courtroom of Last Attraction in opposition to her conviction and sentence.
Chow was the vice chairman of the at the moment disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Help of Patriotic Democratic Actions of China. The federal government can be charging the alliance for incitement to commit subversion. A listening to is scheduled on June 24 to listen to the defence’s problem on whether or not one of many judges ought to withdraw herself from the case as she had entry to redacted prosecution supplies.
In March, the legislature unanimously passed the Safeguarding Nationwide Safety Ordinance. Beforehand, the ordinance blocked an inmate’s sentence remission for violating nationwide safety offences. This was the primary time the police invoked the sedition offence within the newly enacted ordinance.
Within the press convention, Tang reiterated that the ordinance solely targets a small group of people that search to undermine nationwide safety. Tang stated that the federal government welcomes criticisms of presidency insurance policies and continues to guard residents’ freedom of speech pursuant to the Hong Kong Basic Law and different worldwide covenants.
Alternatively, Taiwan’s Judicial Reform Basis published a joint assertion, together with 19 different civil teams together with Amnesty Worldwide, to name for the quick launch of Chow and the withdrawal of the fees. The teams additionally referred to as on the federal government to make sure the ordinance and its implementation is suitable with worldwide human rights norms and requirements; this was beforehand criticised by UN Particular Rapporteurs.
Source / Picture: jurist.org
