5 of 7 people arrested in first sedition case under Hong Kong’s new domestic national security law released on bail
- Suspects out on bail as China’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong hits back at the United States and European Union over their ‘irresponsible comments’ on the arrests
- US and EU called arrests under city’s new security law ‘a contemptible violation of human rights’, which China rebukes as interfering with authorities’ proper administration of justice
The development came as China’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong hit back at the United States and European Union over their “irresponsible comments” on the arrest this week of the seven suspects, who included activist Chow Hang-tung. She is currently on remand at Tai Lam Centre for Women for a separate offence.
The Hong Kong government on Thursday evening also released a similar statement, saying it “strongly disapproved of and condemned all baseless allegations” by the US and the EU.
The seven people were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday for sedition over content they allegedly published on the Tiananmen Square crackdown.
Police said on Thursday that five of the arrestees have been granted bail. It was understood that one, arrested a day after the others, remained under investigation.
Chow is a former chairwoman for the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which previously organised June 4 vigils at Victoria Park to mark the crackdown.