Hong Kong national security police have arrested a 48-year-old woman over “acts with seditious intention,” reportedly related to posts on Twitter.
According to the police, the woman was suspected of posting “seditious” content on different social media platforms. The posts involved content that police said “incited hatred towards the Hong Kong and central governments, included slogans, promoted Hong Kong independence, incited violent protest, and insulted China’s national flag and anthem.”
The woman was arrested in Western district on Tuesday afternoon, police said, adding that she had been detained for investigation.
The woman is a homemaker and was accused of using multiple Twitter accounts to post seditious messages, local media reported.
Police seized electronic devices at her home that were suspected to have been used to post the messages.
Sedition is not covered by the Beijing-imposed national security law, which targets secession, subversion, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts and mandates up to life imprisonment.
It was last amended in the 1970s when Hong Kong was still a British colony and was unused for over half a century until March 2020, when it was revived in the aftermath of the 2019 extradition bill protests and unrest.
Those convicted under the sedition law face a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
Support HKFP | Code of Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report
latest national security stories
