Hong Kong: pro-democracy activist arrested for "seditious remarks" before rally
Pro-democracy activist Tam Tak-chi on October 1, 2017 during a protest in Hong Kong.
AFP Photo / Anthony WALLACE
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An opposition activist was arrested by police on Sunday (September 6) in Hong Kong for “making seditious remarks” hours before a rally against the controversial national security law.
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The arrest of Tam Tak-chi, vice-president of the radical People Power party, comes on the day when legislative elections postponed for a year due to coronavirus were to be held.
An unauthorized demonstration, organized to protest against the new national security law, the postponement of the elections as well as the vast Covid-19 screening campaign which involved Chinese companies, has received online support from more than 10,000 people.
Use of a colonial law
Tam Tak-chi, a former radio host, was arrested at his home in northeast Hong Kong by a police unit in charge of national security.
He was not taken into custody, police said.
"
The man we arrested this morning was arrested for making seditious remarks under section 10 of the Criminal Offenses Ordinance
," said police spokesman Li Kwai-wah. , referring to a text promulgated at the time when the territory
was a British colony
.
It was intended to suppress opposition to the government.
Li said the opponent was arrested for using the words "arousing hatred and contempt for the government as well as public discontent" during speeches in Hong Kong this summer.
According to Li Kwai-wah, it was the police from the unit in charge of national security who made the arrest because at the initial stage of the investigation, they suspected him of "
inciting secession
". a crime that is included in the national security law.
"
But after collecting evidence and consulting with the Justice Ministry, we decided that it was more appropriate to use the Criminal Offenses Ordinance
," Li said.
21 people arrested since the national security law
Since
the National Security Law
was imposed at the end of June by Beijing on Hong Kong, 21 people, including press boss Jimmy Lai and famous activist Agnes Chow, have been arrested for "
inciting secession
", "
collusion with foreign powers
”and“
acts of terrorism
”.
The Hong Kong authorities claim that this new law has not affected the freedoms of expression and assembly guaranteed under the “
One country, two systems
”
principle
established during the handover to China in 1997. Number of democracy activists denounce for their part a liberticidal text.
► To read also: Hong Kong: accused of intimidation, the press boss Jimmy Lai acquitted by the justice
(With AFP)
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