Hong Kong singer Tommy Yuen charged over allegedly seditious social media posts
- A magistrate found that Yuen’s posts on Facebook and Instagram had posed a risk to national security
- Yuen and his assistant were arrested on Tuesday by national security officers in Sha Tin and Tin Shui Wai, respectively
Hong Kong singer and outspoken supporter of the anti-government movement Tommy Yuen Man-on was remanded in custody on Thursday after a magistrate found that his allegedly seditious social media posts had endangered national security.
The 41-year-old singer and his 20-year-old assistant were picked up on Tuesday by national security officers in Sha Tin and Tin Shui Wai, respectively. Yuen was a member of the now-defunct Canto-pop boy band E-kids, which was formed in 2002.
Yuen and his assistant, who is also his former brother-in-law, were arrested on suspicion of money laundering, while the former was also accused of acting with seditious intent.
The singer was charged with one count of “doing an act or acts with seditious intention” under the colonial-era sedition law when he appeared before a magistrate at West Kowloon Court on Thursday.
The prosecution alleged that Yuen had posted 19 seditious statements on Facebook and Instagram between September 26 last year and January 21, with the intent to incite hatred and contempt against the government and judiciary, excite others to attempt to unlawfully alter any legally established matter, and raise discontent among residents.
A charge sheet available for media inspection did not reveal details about the social media posts in question.
Prosecutor Jennifer Tsui Sin-chi said the justice department could press further charges against the accused after an examination of his mobile phone, bank transaction records and business documents.
