Hong Kong police have arrested five people for sedition as the city prepares to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the British handover and a potential visit from China’s leader, Xi Jinping.
Two men, aged 28 and 30, were arrested and charged on Wednesday with “doing an act or acts with seditious intention”, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail.
They were suspected of posting messages on social media that “promote feelings of ill will and enmity between different classes of the population of Hong Kong and incite the use of violence”, police said in a statement.
Police on Wednesday also announced three new arrests in relation to a previous case involving a martial arts coach accused of running an armed separatist movement.
Police officers stand guard at Victoria Park, the traditional site of the annual Tiananmen candlelight vigil, on 4 June.
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Officers arrested three men aged between 39 and 50 for sedition and and said they seized “a large number of offensive weapons” including machetes, knives and swords from their residences.
In March, authorities laid charges against two people after they allegedly set up a martial arts training hall to organise an “armed force for Hong Kong independence”.
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Hong Kong authorities are on high alert as the city prepares for the pivotal date of 1 July, when a new government will be sworn in and the former colony marks 25 years since its handover.
While past Chinese leaders tended to visit Hong Kong on key anniversaries, a potential visit by Xi next week has been complicated by the country’s zero-tolerance policy for coronavirus infection risks.
Over the past two years the offence of sedition – which was created by British colonial rulers and had been long criticised as an anti-free-speech law – has been wielded against journalists, unionists, activists, a former pop star and people critical of the government’s response to the Covid pandemic.
Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 in the wake of massive democracy protests, which was wielded by officials to crack down on dissent. More than 190 people in Hong Kong have been arrested for national security crimes, though authorities have dismissed criticisms about shrinking civil liberties.
What's life like for LGBTQ people in Hong Kong? Let's take a look at some of the key equality indicators.
Is it homosexuality legal in Hong Kong?
Yes. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1991.
Are there anti-discrimination protections in place for LGBTQ people in Hong Kong?
Sort of. There are some limited protections in place.
Is there Marriage Equality in Hong Kong?
No. There are some limited recognitions of same-sex relationships, but not substantial legal recognition.
What's life like for LGBTQ people in Hong Kong?
While homosexuality is legal in Hong Kong, and there are some limited anti-discrimination protections in place, the suppression of independent media outlets and the attempts to silence any opposition to the government creates an atmosphere of uncertainty for the LGBTQ community.
