Hong Kong woman held over alleged seditious T-shirt
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong police said on Monday night that they had arrested a woman last week outside West Kowloon Court on suspicion of disorder in a public place, obstructing police and acting with seditious intention.
The detention happened in the early hours of Friday, shortly before judges delivered their verdict in the national security case against former Hong Kong Alliance leaders Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung.
Key Points
- Police said the woman was arrested during a security operation outside West Kowloon Court, but did not disclose operational details.
- More than 50 people had queued outside the courthouse shortly after 5am on Friday to cover or attend the judgment hearing.
- A plain-clothes officer reportedly singled out the woman, whose black T-shirt was said by a witness to bear Japanese characters.
- Media footage captured officers escorting her into a police vehicle, while reporters were reportedly told to leave the area.
- Hours later, Lee, Chow and the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance were found guilty of inciting subversion under the national security law.
Why It Matters
The arrest took place alongside a closely watched national security judgment involving the group that once organised Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen Square vigil.
In their 216-page ruling, three High Court judges said attempts to overthrow or undermine the Communist Party of China’s leadership could amount to subversion, setting out the court’s view of the legal boundary in such cases.