Hong Kong police arrest journalist from online news outlet over alleged sedition

HONG KONG — HONG KONG–

On Wednesday, police stated that a man and a woman had been detained on suspicion of committing seditious acts—a charge under the home‑grown national security law introduced in 2024. Neither individual’s identity was disclosed. The South China Morning Post added that one of the suspects, activist Lee Ying‑chi, was involved in the operation.
The statement noted that officers located several individuals holding flowers near a subway station on August 31, who allegedly chanted seditious slogans, spreading misinformation to attack the government and tarnish law‑enforcement credibility.

Boom News, which boasts more than 66 000 Instagram Followers, published a video on August 31 featuring Boom News representative mentioning uncertainty about the true casualty count of the subway‑station incident, then reporting that police removed at least two persons.
During the 2019 anti‑government demonstrations, police conducted a contentious operation inside a subway station on August 31, an event that sparked controversy. Authorities dismiss the incident as fabrication.

Tang’s detention has heightened anxiety among frontline reporters, who argue that mobile reporting is essential for delivering accurate, on‑the‑ground accounts of developments.

In 2021, the government forced the closure of the critical print dailies Apple Daily and Stand News after senior executives were detained. Founder Jimmy Lai received a ten‑year sentence, while his staff faced sentences ranging from six years eight months to ten years.
The state maintained that press freedom remains “firmly protected” albeit not absolute.

Hong Kong’s global reputation suffered accordingly. Its recent placement in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index—140th out of 180 jurisdictions, down from the top‑ten ranking behind in 2002—mirrors its declining freedom environment. In 2020, the city slipped to eighth place, reflecting ongoing challenges to independent journalism.

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