3 re-arrested for alleged sedition after marking anniversary of 2019 Prince Edward police storming

Police have re-arrested three people on suspicion of sedition, after previously apprehending them outside Prince Edward station on the anniversary of a 2019 incident when police stormed MTR trains on the platform. Prince Edward MTR station on August 31, 2019. Photo: May James/HKFP. In an official statement issued Saturday, authorities said the trio were arrested by the National Security Department on Thursday on suspicion of “doing an act that has a seditious intention with a seditious intention.” “Police noticed that on the evening of August 31, some people were standing outside MTR Prince Edward Station holding bouquets and shouting seditious slogans,” the statement read. Those arrested were “suspected of spreading false information,” as well as attacking and smearing the government and the police force, it added. The three people – two men and one woman aged between 33 and 79 – were initially arrested near Prince Edward MTR station on Monday last week. They had gone to the station to mark seven years since the “831 incident,” or the “August 31 incident.” On that date in 2019, baton-wielding riot police stormed Prince Edward MTR station following hours of protest clashes. Officers were filmed pepper-spraying people in carriages as they drove away reporters and medics. The Hong Kong Police Force headquarters in Wan Chai. Photo: Candice Chau/HKFP. Discrepancies in official records of injuries and the closure of the station fuelled unverified rumours of civilian deaths. The police watchdog largely cleared the force of wrongdoing but faced criticism for lacking independence and investigatory powers in its probe. According to the Saturday statement, “police stressed that the so-called ‘831 incident’… is a lie manipulated by persons with ulterior motives to spread lies, attack the HKSAR Government and smear the Police Force.” Local media have reported that one of the arrestees is Virginia Fung, a pro-democracy district councillor who served from 1994 to the 2007. She was convicted and imprisoned in 2006 for rental allowance fraud, and subsequently barred from sitting on the local council again. Sedition is an offence under Hong Kong’s local security law, also known as Article 23. Offenders face up to seven years in prison if convicted. Safeguard press freedom; keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps Make a one-off donation. Founded in 2015, Hong Kong Free Press is an impartial, non-profit, award-winning English-language newspaper. Run by journalists, backed by readers and 100% independent, HKFP is governed by a public Code of Ethics. If there are uncertainties relating to safety or security, we may use an "HKFP Staff" byline. More on our Ethics & Policies. More by Hong Kong Free Press