Hong Kong men remanded in custody on sedition charges; 1 faces allegations he defaced country’s flag and ridiculed national anthem
- Two men alleged to have published seditious statements and pictures on internet forum popular during 2019 social unrest
- One also charged with ridicule of national anthem and defacing country’s flag
Two Hong Kong men were on Thursday remanded in custody on charges of publication of seditious statements and pictures on an online forum, with one also accused of insulting the country’s flag and national anthem.
Chui Hoi-chun, 18, a part-time waiter, and unemployed Choi Chun-nok, 29, appeared in front of a magistrate hand-picked by the city’s leader to sit on national security cases at West Kowloon Court two days after they were arrested.
Prosecutors said the pair had posted seditious content, such as offensive slogans, on the LIHKG forum website, which was popular with anti-government protesters during the 2019 social unrest.
They also alleged Chui had also published two versions of the national anthem, “March of the Volunteers”, one with altered lyrics and the other with insulting remarks, designed to ridicule the song.
Chui was also alleged to have had posted images of the national flag, either scrawled on or defiled, on the internet with intent to desecrate the country’s symbol.
Both men were charged with committing an act or acts with seditious intention under 1938 sedition legislation.