Second Hongkonger charged with sedition under new security law

A second person in the city has been charged with sedition offenses under the city’s new domestic security law within a week. He allegedly published seditious videos on social media to provoke hatred towards the central and local authorities.

Au Kin-wai, 58, was brought to West Kowloon Court on Friday on one count of “knowingly publishing publications that had a seditious intention” under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. He was said to have committed the offense between Match 23 and June 19.

Au did not apply for bail and remains in remand until his next court appearance on August 7.

The court heard this morning that footage posted on Au’s social media accounts contained statements that called for the Chinese Communist Party, President Xi Jinping and Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to “step down”. The videos also allegedly promoted a “revolution” against the central government.

The prosecution said Au is in possession of two mobile phones, two desktop computers and three laptop computers, and applied to adjourn the case to August 7 for extra time to examine the electronic appliances, which Principal Magistrate Don So Man-lung granted.

On June 14, Chu Kai-pong, 27, was the first person to be charged under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance since it was passed in March. His shirt allegedly contained the banned protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” with himself wearing a yellow mask.

He faces one count of “doing with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention.” He was also charged with failing to show proof of identity to police and loitering with intent.