Hong Kong police charge man over allegedly writing words on bus seats with seditious intent
- Suspect is third to be charged under city’s domestic national security law, which was enacted earlier this year
Hong Kong national security police have charged a 29-year-old man over allegedly writing words on the back of bus seats to incite hatred towards the local and central governments.
A source familiar with the case said on Tuesday that clerical worker Chung Man-kit was the third to have been charged under the city’s domestic national security law, which was enacted earlier this year.
Chung appeared in West Kowloon Court in afternoon to face three counts of “doing an act or acts with seditious intention” and two of “destroying or damaging property”.
He said he understood the charge, opting not to apply for bail. He will be remanded in custody.
The court adjourned the case to August 22 after Senior Public Prosecutor Vincent Lee Ting-wai applied for extra time for police to further their investigation and examine Chung’s mobile phone and computer.
“We are also investigating whether this case is related to other cases,” Lee said.
Chung was accused of writing statements on the backs of passengers seats on public buses and displaying them with seditious intention between March 23 and 25, as well as March 28 and April 21.
The prosecution said Chung intended to instigate “hatred, contempt or disaffection” against the country’s “fundamental system”, constitutional order and the authority of the city government, legislature and judiciary.
The remarks were also able to incite any person “to attempt to procure the alteration”, through illegal means, of “any matter established” by the central and city government.
Separately, Chung was charged with contravening the Crimes Ordinance for destroying or damaging the backs of passenger seats of two buses belonging to Citybus Limited on April 2 and 18.
Officers from the force’s National Security Department arrested him in Tseung Kwan O on Sunday on suspicion of committing an act or acts 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 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was enacted earlier this year in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-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.
