Hongkonger remanded in custody on national security grounds after allegedly reposting footage of anthem blunder
- Courier Wong Chun-kit is accused of acting with seditious intent by allegedly publishing offensive online content between start of 2021 and November this year
- Wong denied bail after judge says he cannot be sure defendant would not commit further offences threatening national security
A 42-year-old Hongkonger who reposted footage of a protest song being played at a rugby match in South Korea was remanded in custody on Wednesday on national security grounds after he was accused of breaching a colonial-era sedition law.
Courier Wong Chun-kit was escorted to West Kowloon Court to appear before Chief Magistrate Victor So Wai-tak, who is among a pool of jurists approved by the city’s leader to oversee national security proceedings.
The magistrate threw out Wong’s bail application, saying he could not be sure the defendant would not commit further offences threatening the country’s safety.
Wong stood accused of undertaking an act or acts with seditious intentions for allegedly publishing offensive statements, images and videos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram between January 30, 2021, and November 21 of this year.
Other allegedly seditious posts included calls for resistance against authorities and attacks on the government’s Covid-19 pandemic measures, the court heard.
The content was deemed capable of inciting hatred towards the central and local governments, as well as instigating residents to use violence or commit other unlawful acts, according to a charge sheet available for press inspection.
The 42-year-old caught the attention of police’s National Security Department after he reposted a viral video clip showing Asia Rugby – the organisers of the tournament in Incheon – playing the protest anthem “Glory to Hong Kong” rather than “March of the Volunteers”, as the visiting Hong Kong team took to the field for the final against the host nation on November 13.
