Hong Kong national security police arrest woman over alleged incitement to secession

A 23-year-old Hong Kong woman was arrested under the Beijing-imposed national security law on Wednesday, the police have said.

According to a statement by the police released on Thursday night, the woman was arrested in Sau Mau Ping for allegedly inciting secession.

Hong Kong Police — Photo: Candice Chau/HKFP.

The 23-year-old is currently in police custody under investigation. She has been accused of publishing messages online inciting Hong Kong independence.

The sweeping security legislation, enacted in June 2020, criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts, which were broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure.

Collusion with foreign forces

In the same statement, the police also confirmed that Elizabeth Tang, former chief executive of the pro-democracy Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, had been arrested over suspected collusion with foreign forces.

News of Tang’s arrest broke on Thursday afternoon. She was arrested outside Stanley Prison after visiting her husband, Lee Cheuk-yan, who is currently remanded over another national security law case.

Tang was escorted back to her home in Mei Foo Sun Chuen in Lai Chi Kok. The 65-year-old is currently under police custody.

Lee has been charged under the sweeping security legislation along with the group that organises Hong Kong’s Tiananmen vigil and two of its former leaders over alleged incitement to subversion. The case has been transferred to the High Court where the maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years imprisonment.