Latest news with #NationalSecurityDepartment
RTHK
5 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
19 wanted over alleged national security violations
19 wanted over alleged national security violations The police urge the wanted persons to return to Hong Kong and surrender. The police announced on Friday that they have issued arrest warrants for 19 people accused of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law by forming or joining an organisation called the "Hong Kong Parliament". According to the National Security Department of the police force, the "Hong Kong Parliament" aims to subvert state power and challenge the central and SAR governments. Police said its objectives include promoting 'self-determination,' drawing up a so-called 'Hong Kong constitution,' and using unlawful means to overturn the country's constitutional order in violation of Article 22 of the National Security Law. Nine of the suspects are accused of establishing the "Hong Kong Parliament" and organising its election. Among them are Elmer Yuen, Victor Ho, Tony Choi, and Johnny Fok, who were earlier placed on the wanted list for suspected national security offences. Authorities have offered rewards of HK$1 million each for information leading to their arrests. As for the other five suspects, along with 10 others who were named as wanted persons for allegedly participating in the election, the police are offering a reward of HK$200,000 each. All 19 wanted individuals are said to be living outside Hong Kong. "The above wanted persons are urged to surrender to Hong Kong Police over their roles in engaging in endangering national security activities, so as to rectify their mistakes," according to a police statement. Officers said investigations are still ongoing and more people may be added to the wanted list if necessary. They pledged to continue working hard to bring all the suspects to justice.
RTHK
5 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
19 wanted over alleged national security violations
19 wanted over alleged national security violations The police urge the wanted persons to return to Hong Kong and surrender. The police announced on Friday that they have issued arrest warrants for 19 people accused of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law by forming or joining an organisation called the "Hong Kong Parliament". According to the National Security Department of the police force, the "Hong Kong Parliament" aims to subvert state power and challenge the central and SAR governments. Police said its objectives include promoting 'self-determination,' drawing up a so-called 'Hong Kong constitution,' and using unlawful means to overturn the country's constitutional order in violation of Article 22 of the National Security Law. Nine of the suspects are accused of forming "Hong Kong Parliament" and arranging its election. Among them were Elmer Yuen, Victor Ho, Tony Choi, and Johnny Fok, who were earlier placed on the wanted list for suspected national security offences. Authorities have offered rewards of HK$1 million each for information leading to their arrests. As for the other five suspects, along with 10 others who were named as wanted persons for allegedly participating in the election, the police are offering a reward of HK$200,000 each. All 19 wanted individuals are said to be living outside Hong Kong. "The above wanted persons are urged to surrender to Hong Kong Police over their roles in engaging in endangering national security activities, so as to rectify their mistakes," a police statement said. Officers said investigations are still ongoing and more people may be added to the wanted list if necessary. They pledged to continue working hard to bring all the suspects to justice.
Malaysian Reserve
7 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
HK arrests 18-year-old for writing ‘seditious words' in bathroom
HONG KONG police arrested an 18-year-old on suspicion he left what they called 'seditious' messages in a bathroom, adding to a recent series of national security actions that signal authorities' continued efforts to curb dissent. The man is accused of being 'involved in writing seditious words in a commercial building toilet on three separate occasions,' the government said Wednesday. The content allegedly provoked hatred and disaffection against the government and incited others to defy the law. The move is the latest in a flurry of enforcement actions against perceived threats to the Chinese state in the former British colony. Hong Kong is seeking to burnish its status as a finance hub after its image took a hit from strict pandemic controls and clampdown on political freedoms. Earlier this month police arrested four men for allegedly advocating independence for the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. In June, local authorities took their first known joint operation with Beijing's security officers to investigate a case of alleged foreign collusion. Police also banned a Taiwanese video game that month for allegedly calling for armed revolution. In its Wednesday statement, the National Security Department of the police charged the man for carrying out 'with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention,' a crime that's punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment on first conviction. The offense is defined in the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, commonly known as Article 23, which was fast-tracked into domestic law last year. It's been invoked in addition to the Beijing-imposed National Security Law of 2020, which authorities used to detain and imprison dozens of leading democracy activists. The Hong Kong government didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. –BLOOMBERG
HKFP
23-07-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong teen arrested for allegedly writing ‘seditious words' in commercial building toilet
A Hong Kong teenager has been arrested and charged after he allegedly wrote 'seditious' messages in the toilet of a commercial building on three occasions. The 18-year-old was arrested in Kowloon on Monday on suspicion of 'doing with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention', the National Security Department of the police force said in a statement on Wednesday. He will be brought to the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on Wednesday afternoon to face one count of sedition charge, as well as three counts of criminal damage. According to the police, the messages were deemed to have provoked hatred, contempt or disaffection against the constitutional order and the executive, legislative or judicial authorities in Hong Kong. The contents also incited other people to commit illegal acts, the police alleged. 'Police remind members of the public that 'doing with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention' is a serious offence. Offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for seven years on first conviction. Members of the public are urged not to defy the law,' the statement read. Sedition was originally outlawed under the colonial-era Crimes Ordinance and carried a maximum penalty of two years in prison. However, the law was repealed after sedition was incorporated into Hong Kong's domestic security legislation, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance — enacted in March 2024. More commonly known as Article 23 legislation, the ordinance is separate from the Beiing-imposed national security law enacted in 2020. The homegrown legislation targets treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage. It allows for pre-charge detention of up to 16 days, and suspects' access to lawyers may be restricted, with penalties involving up to life in prison. Article 23 was shelved in 2003 amid mass protests, remaining taboo for years. But, on March 23, 2024, it was enacted having been fast-tracked and unanimously approved at the city's opposition-free legislature. The law has been criticised by rights NGOs, Western states and the UN as vague, broad and 'regressive.' Authorities, however, cited perceived foreign interference and a constitutional duty to 'close loopholes' after the 2019 protests and unrest.
Mint
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
HK Arrests 18-Year-Old for Writing ‘Seditious Words' in Bathroom
(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong police arrested an 18-year-old on suspicion he left what they called 'seditious' messages in a bathroom, adding to a recent series of national security actions that signal authorities' continued efforts to curb dissent. The man is accused of being 'involved in writing seditious words in a commercial building toilet on three separate occasions,' the government said Wednesday. The content allegedly provoked hatred and disaffection against the government and incited others to defy the law. The move is the latest in a flurry of enforcement actions against perceived threats to the Chinese state in the former British colony. Hong Kong is seeking to burnish its status as a finance hub after its image took a hit from strict pandemic controls and clampdown on political freedoms. Earlier this month police arrested four men for allegedly advocating independence for the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. In June, local authorities took their first known joint operation with Beijing's security officers to investigate a case of alleged foreign collusion. Police also banned a Taiwanese video game that month for allegedly calling for armed revolution. In its Wednesday statement, the National Security Department of the police charged the man for carrying out 'with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention,' a crime that's punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment on first conviction. The offense is defined in the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, commonly known as Article 23, which was fast-tracked into domestic law last year. It's been invoked in addition to the Beijing-imposed National Security Law of 2020, which authorities used to detain and imprison dozens of leading democracy activists. The Hong Kong government didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. More stories like this are available on
