HONG KONG: A prominent Hong Kong democracy activist on Tuesday (Sep 8) became the first person to be charged with sedition since the city was returned to Chinese rule as authorities widened their pursuit of critics in the financial hub.
Democracy campaigner and radio DJ Tam Tak-chi appeared in court on Tuesday facing five counts of "uttering seditious words" under a rarely used colonial-era law.
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His prosecution comes just two months after Beijing imposed a separate national security law on Hong Kong to stamp out pro-democracy unrest, a move that drew condemnation from many Western nations and UN rights experts.
READ: Hong Kong activist arrested for 'seditious words' before rally
China argued the sweeping new law was needed to plug a lack of national security legislation in the restless city.
But the case against Tam uses a colonial sedition law that has been on the books since 1938 and will deepen fears that speech is being increasingly criminalised in the semi-autonomous hub.
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The South China Morning Post on Tuesday said it was the first sedition charge since Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997.
Tam is just the latest in a line of government critics to face prosecution in the months since Hong Kong was rocked last year by huge and often violent pro-democracy protests.
He was arrested on Sunday by a new Hong Kong police unit formed to investigate national security crimes.
READ: Hong Kong police fire pepper balls at protesters opposed to election delay, new law
Officers said the 47-year-old was held for using words "inciting hatred, contempt against the government and causing discontent and dissatisfaction among the Hong Kong people".
Local media on Tuesday said Tam was denied bail and that prosecutors gave examples of "seditious slogans".
They included the popular protest slogans "Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our times", "Five demands, not one less" and "Disband the police force&Read More – Source
HONG KONG: A prominent Hong Kong democracy activist on Tuesday (Sep 8) became the first person to be charged with sedition since the city was returned to Chinese rule as authorities widened their pursuit of critics in the financial hub.
Democracy campaigner and radio DJ Tam Tak-chi appeared in court on Tuesday facing five counts of "uttering seditious words" under a rarely used colonial-era law.
Advertisement
Advertisement
His prosecution comes just two months after Beijing imposed a separate national security law on Hong Kong to stamp out pro-democracy unrest, a move that drew condemnation from many Western nations and UN rights experts.
READ: Hong Kong activist arrested for 'seditious words' before rally
China argued the sweeping new law was needed to plug a lack of national security legislation in the restless city.
But the case against Tam uses a colonial sedition law that has been on the books since 1938 and will deepen fears that speech is being increasingly criminalised in the semi-autonomous hub.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The South China Morning Post on Tuesday said it was the first sedition charge since Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997.
Tam is just the latest in a line of government critics to face prosecution in the months since Hong Kong was rocked last year by huge and often violent pro-democracy protests.
He was arrested on Sunday by a new Hong Kong police unit formed to investigate national security crimes.
READ: Hong Kong police fire pepper balls at protesters opposed to election delay, new law
Officers said the 47-year-old was held for using words "inciting hatred, contempt against the government and causing discontent and dissatisfaction among the Hong Kong people".
Local media on Tuesday said Tam was denied bail and that prosecutors gave examples of "seditious slogans".
They included the popular protest slogans "Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our times", "Five demands, not one less" and "Disband the police force&Read More – Source
