In June, in addition to being the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre on “June 4th”, it is also the 5th anniversary of the 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition bill movement. This year in March, the Hong Kong Legislative Council swiftly passed the “National Security Law” in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law, hastily implemented by the Hong Kong government. This law was finally put into action during these “sensitive days,” resulting in the arrests of at least 10 people within just two weeks. The arrested individuals were detained for various actions such as posting on Facebook, chanting slogans, and wearing clothes with slogans. The Hong Kong government also revoked the passports of 6 Hong Kong residents who fled to the UK.
On May 28, the Hong Kong National Security Department arrested 1 man and 5 women, accusing them of violating Article 24 of the National Security Law, which states the “incitement to subversion-related crimes.” One of the arrested individuals was former deputy chairperson of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, Chow Hang-tung, who was remanded over the “incitement to subvert state power” case. Others arrested included Chow’s mother, former committee members, and a dentist.
Security Secretary John Lee stated that Chow and others used a social media page named “Little Tang Group Drawing Club” to continuously post “inciting posts” with the intention to encourage netizens to organize activities harmful to national security and “illegal activities.”
When asked if the earlier statement by the police about committing the crime on a “sensitive day” referred to “June Fourth,” Lee did not directly respond. He mentioned that the day itself was not important, but rather individuals were using related issues to “incite.” He was also asked about whether public mourning and mentioning “June Fourth” were illegal, to which he did not respond directly.
Examining the posts on the “Little Tang Group Drawing Club,” they started at the end of March indicating posts from that day until June 4 for 35 days, with daily writings about “May 35th,” “35th Anniversary,” with “35 segments,” serving as personal experiences and also as a “testimony.” These writings largely revolved around Chow’s memories of commemorating “June Fourth” over the years.
By May 29, the police arrested the wife of another detainee, Pan Yau-chui, linking her to the aforementioned cases. It was later alleged that she provided financial support of around HK$140,000 through an online subscription platform to exiled former Legislative Council member Nathan Law and others wanted for endangering national security, violating the Hong Kong National Security Law on the charge of “providing funds or assets to another person for the purpose of subverting the state.”
The overseas organization “Hong Kong Information Center on Human Rights” condemned the arrests, criticizing the government’s action for weaponizing the law and infringing on the citizens’ right to freedom of speech. Moreover, Sarah Brooks, the Director of China at Amnesty International, criticized the Hong Kong government for once again suppressing freedom of expression, attempting to stop people from commemorating the June Fourth event, and called for the unconditional release of Chow Hang-tung and other Hong Kong people arrested for exercising their right to freedom of speech.
The overseas group “Hong Kong Watch” also denounced the initial arrests made by the Hong Kong police under Article 23 of the Basic Law, suggesting that the British government should declare the relevant laws unconstitutional, in violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and impose sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
Nevertheless, police actions continued. On June 3, national security police arrested Chow Hang-tung’s uncle, Liu Shun-guang, increasing the number of people arrested in the same case to 8.
On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of “June Fourth,” from 1990 to 2019, the annual candlelight vigil attended by thousands was no longer allowed due to pandemic-related restrictions and the disbanding of the organizer, the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, under the shadow of the National Security Law. However, over the years, citizens have found ways to continue the commemoration.
On June 4, police were heavily deployed at Victoria Park, where the candlelight vigil typically took place, and in the nearby Causeway Bay. Activist “Grandma Wong” Wang Fung-yiu was seen laying flowers in Causeway Bay, shouting slogans such as “End the distortion of June Fourth,” “Hold accountable for the massacre,” “End one-party dictatorship,” “Release political prisoners,” “Build a democratic China,” “The people will never forget,” and “The Five Major Demands, not one less.”
At the time, police present at the scene demanded Grandma Wong to stop shouting slogans and warned her of the potential violation of the National Security Law for incitement. Eventually, a large number of officers surrounded her and made the arrest.
The police stated that Wong was arrested for inciting subversion under Article 24 of the National Security Law and became the first person to be arrested on the street under Article 23 of the Basic Law for chanting slogans.
However, the use of Article 23 to crackdown on expressing opinions in public also extended to citizens commemorating the anti-extradition bill movement. 27-year-old Keith Chow was brought to the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court on June 14, charged with incitement under the National Security Law and two other charges related to disobeying identity verification requests and loitering.
It was alleged that on June 12, Keith wore a shirt with “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times” printed on it, and a yellow mask with “FDNOL” representing the “Five Demands, Not One Less,” and when stopped by the police at the MTR station, he refused to show his identification.
June 12 marked the 5th anniversary of the use of tear gas by the police to disperse protesters surrounding the Legislative Council during the anti-extradition bill movement. The “Five Demands” were the set of demands made by the protesters which included withdrawing the extradition bill, releasing arrested protesters unconditionally, setting up an independent inquiry into police actions, ending the portrayal of the June 12 clashes as a “riot,” and achieving universal suffrage for the Legislative Council and Chief Executive elections.
As for the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times,” it was deemed by a Hong Kong court in 2021 to incite others to secede from China under the National Security Law.
Designated judge So Wai Tak stated during the court hearing on the 14th that there was insufficient reason to believe that the defendant would not commit acts endangering national security again and denied Keith’s bail, rescheduling the hearing to August 7.
This was the second time Keith was charged for wearing clothes with protest slogans. Earlier, in November 2023, he was found wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt with “FREE HONG KONG LIBERATE HONG KONG REVOLUTION NOW” at the airport departure hall during a security check. The police discovered another short-sleeved T-shirt with “HONG KONG INDEPENDENCE” and three “FREE HONG KONG LIBERATE HONG KONG REVOLUTION NOW” black flags in his backpack.
Under police caution, Keith acknowledged understanding the meaning of the slogans and supported the ideas, hoping to garner public support through this and disclosing that the clothes were purchased in Taiwan.
Keith admitted to “one or more acts of incitement” and “possession of incendiary publications,” and was sentenced to 3 months in prison in January of this year.
Aside from the arrests, on June 12, the Hong Kong government for the first time invoked Article 89 of the National Security Law, empowering the Security Bureau to announce in the Government Gazette measures against six individuals who had “fled to the UK and were wanted on suspicion of committing acts endangering national security.” These measures included revoking their HKSAR passports, prohibiting financial transactions or dealing with finances for them, prohibiting certain activities related to real estate, and “prohibiting jointly owned enterprises or partnerships involving the suspects.” It was also stated that relevant individuals would have their professional qualifications in Hong Kong temporarily suspended and their directorships temporarily removed.
All six individuals had fled to the UK earlier, including former Legislative Councilor Nathan Law, former Confederation of Trade Unions General Secretary Leung Chau-ting, activist “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, British Hong Kong Overseas Association founder David Chung Man-key, “Stand News” anchor Roger How, and Aegis Mok. Authorities also temporarily removed the directorships of Leung Chau-ting and Aegis Mok and suspended the legal practice of Roger How, who is a barrister by profession.
A government spokesperson claimed that these “fugitives” were openly engaging in activities “endangering national security” in the UK, making “alarmist remarks” to discredit Hong Kong, and continuing to “brazenly collude with external forces,” hence the necessity for these strong measures.
John Lee further clarified that once an individual violates the National Security Law or related offenses and is subject to a wanted warrant, authorities can designate them as “specified fugitives.” When and which measures to implement against these individuals would be reviewed and balanced accordingly, emphasizing that providing funds to specified fugitives using any platform is illegal.
In June 2020, bypassing the Hong Kong legislative process, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee passed the National Security Law directly in Hong Kong. Subsequently, several pro-democracy figures and senior media executives were arrested. In January of this year, the Hong Kong government initiated local legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law. The symbolic consultation process lasted just one month and was pushed through in just 12 days in the now predominantly pro-establishment Legislative Council, ensuring the swift passage of the National Security Law.
The National Security Law, under the pretext of “national security,” expanded beyond the offenses of secession, subversion, terrorist acts, and collusion with foreign forces stipulated in the National Security Law to include various other offenses such as treason, theft of state secrets, inciting rebellion, foreign political organizations or groups conducting political activities in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong political organizations or groups establishing connections with foreign political organizations or groups.
This series of events has sparked concerns among international human rights organizations and nations regarding the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong. It has also underscored the ongoing struggle of individuals in Hong Kong to exercise their rights and commemorate significant events amidst tightened government control and restrictions.