Hong Kong Journalist Arrested on Sedition Charge

Hong Kong police have arrested independent journalist Tang Ho-wing on suspicion of incitement by spreading disinformation, according to local media reports. The arrest occurred on Wednesday morning, as reported by Sing Tao, which included a photo of the arrest. Tang is the founder of the online news outlet Boom News, which covered an incident on August 31 that commemorated the seventh anniversary of the Prince Edward station clash between antigovernment protesters and police, where some protesters claimed fatalities occurred. Boom News has over 66,000 followers on Instagram and posted a video featuring a woman's account of the 2019 events. Authorities have denied the allegations of deaths during the clash, stating that rumors are baseless. Journalists in Hong Kong are facing increasing restrictions due to political changes initiated by Beijing's 2020 national security law and further enforced by a local statute in 2024. The impact on press freedom was notably highlighted in February when Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with several former staff members receiving sentences ranging from nearly seven to 10 years. On Wednesday, police announced the arrest of two individuals on suspicion of committing seditious acts under the 2024 national security law. While the authorities did not disclose the names of the suspects, the South China Morning Post identified the second individual as activist Lee Ying-chi. The arrests are linked to an August 31 gathering outside a subway station, where participants carried flowers, chanted banned slogans, and allegedly disseminated disinformation aimed at inciting hatred against the government and police. Six others previously arrested in connection with the same offence were later released on bail.