Another arrest made under Safeguarding National Security Ordinance today

     The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force today (June 3) arrested a 62-year-old man in Sha Tin for committing “Offences in Connection with Seditious Intention�.

     Police have earlier made arrests on May 28 and 29 in various districts, including Tai Lam Centre for Women. Six women and one man, aged between 37 and 65, were suspected of committing “Offences in Connection with Seditious Intention�, contravening Section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Among them, a 53-year-old woman was also suspected of committing the offence of “providing pecuniary or other financial assistance or property for the commission of secession by other persons�, contravening Section 21 of the Hong Kong National Security Law. Including the man arrested today, the total number of persons arrested in the case has now increased to eight.

     Police pointed out that a woman in custody had exploited an upcoming sensitive date to repeatedly publish posts with seditious intention on a social platform anonymously with the assistance of at least seven arrested persons since April 2024, with content provoking hatred towards the Central Authorities and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Judiciary, as well as inciting netizens to organise or participate in relevant illegal activities at a later stage. Investigation also revealed that the 53-year-old arrested woman supported fugitive Law Kwun-chung and other individuals through an online subscription platform, with money amounting to approximately $140,000. The 62-year-old man arrested today is being detained for further enquiries, while the remaining seven arrested persons, except for one woman who continues to be remanded in Tai Lam Centre for Women, have been released on bail.

     Police reiterate that offences in connection with seditious intention are very serious crimes, with a maximum penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment. If any arrested person is found to have contravened any requirement or condition in the movement restriction order, they are liable to one year’s imprisonment on conviction. Police remind the public that it is an offence for any person to incite, assist in, abet or provide pecuniary or other financial assistance or property to another person, by any means whatsoever (including through online platform), for committing offences endangering national security, and stress that Police will continue to take strict enforcement actions against such illegal acts and urge members of the public to abide by the law.