Second Hongkonger charged with sedition under Article 23 law in a week

Au Kin-wai allegedly posted seditious videos to provoke hatred towards central and local authorities, with calls for ‘revolution’

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The domestic national security law was enacted earlier this year in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law mini-constitution. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 12:11pm, 21 Jun 2024Updated: 4:02pm, 21 Jun 2024

Hong Kong prosecutors have charged a second person in a week under the new domestic national security law, accusing a man of publishing seditious videos on social media to provoke hatred towards central and local authorities.

Au Kin-wai, 58, did not apply for bail when appearing at West Kowloon Court on Friday to face a count of “knowingly publishing publications that had a seditious intention” under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

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

Prosecutor Vincent Lee Ting-wai asked for extra time for police to conduct further inquiries, including analysis of seven computers and mobile phones seized from Au’s home in Tuen Mun.

Principal Magistrate Don So Man-lung, one of the judges hand-picked by the city leader to adjudicate national security proceedings, scheduled the next hearing for August 7, when another sedition case brought under the law will also be heard.

The indictment said Au published a series of seditious statements and pictures on YouTube, Facebook and X – formerly Twitter – between March 23 and June 19 with intent to instigate “hatred, contempt or disaffection” against the country’s “fundamental system”, constitutional order and the authority of the city government, legislature and judiciary.