Hong Kong handyman, 57, charged, remanded over allegedly making seditious online posts
Chow Kim-ho suspected of publishing 145 seditious posts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads between March 26 and November 12
A Hong Kong man has been charged and remanded in custody pending trial for allegedly posting seditious messages on social media platforms to incite hatred towards local and central authorities.
Part-time handyman Chow Kim-ho, 57, was escorted to West Kowloon Court on Wednesday on suspicion of publishing 145 seditious posts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads between March 26 and November 12.
He was not required to enter a plea on a count of knowingly publishing seditious publications, which carries a maximum jail sentence of seven years under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, as prosecutors asked for more time to conduct investigations.
Prosecutor Vincent Lee Ting-wai said police would examine the defendant’s digital devices and see whether he had committed other offences.
Chief Magistrate Victor So Wai-tak, among those appointed to oversee national security proceedings, granted the request before dismissing Chow’s bail application on national security grounds. He scheduled the next hearing for December 30.
