Hong Kong: Veteran journalist arrested for sedition

This week, authorities in Hong Kong arrested a veteran journalist over charges of sedition. If proven guilty, journalist Allan Au would face up to a year in prison.

Au was arrested by authorities in Hong Kong Monday on sedition charges. The veteran journalist would become the latest critic of the government that may face prison time in the former British colony. Au was charged with “conspiracy to publish seditious material,” referring to his contributions to the pro-democracy news outlet Stand News, which has since been shut down.

Hong Kong law enforcement did not confirm Au’s arrest, but a notice published on the government website described a man that fit Au’s description. The notice also said that the person arrested was “detained for further inquiries.”

Aside from Stand News, another pro-democracy outlet Apple Daily was forced to shut down due to the new national security law imposed by Beijing. Citizen News, also a pro-democracy news outlet, shut down, citing safety concerns.

Human Rights Watch senior researcher Maya Wang shared on Twitter that Au’s arrest sent the message that journalists are not safe in Hong Kong. While Au was arrested by the new national security unit in Hong Kong, law enforcement pressed British colonial-era charges on the journalist. The colonial-era law fell out of use by the 1970s.

Last week, Hong Kong police arrested six people for alleged sedition when they were clapping during court hearings in December and in January.

Early last week, Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam, who led the former British colony through the ongoing pandemic and government protests, announced that she would not be seeking a second term. Lam’s announcement came amidst the announcement of Chief Secretary John Lee’s resignation in order to make a bid to succeed Lam.

“There’s only one consideration and that is family. I have told everyone before that family is my first priority in terms of my consideration. They think it’s time for me to go home,” Lam told reporters during the regular press briefing.

Lam took office in 2017. At the time, she pledged to unite the city that was growing increasingly frustrated with Beijing’s control.