Hong Kong law student from mainland China remanded in custody after being charged for publicly mourning ‘lone wolf’ attacker who knifed police officer

Zeng Yuxuan, 23, is refused bail after she appears at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court charged with sedition under colonial-era law
It is alleged she laid flowers and placed candles and pictures near Causeway Bay scene of the attack two years ago

Hong Kong courts

Fiona Chow

Published: 8:32pm, 2 Jun 2023

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A mainland Chinese woman studying in Hong Kong was remanded in custody on Friday after she was charged under colonial-era sedition legislation in the wake of an alleged public display of mourning for a man who carried out a “lone wolf” knife attack on a police officer two years ago on the 24th anniversary of the city’s handover by Britain.

Zeng Yuxuan, 23, a law student, was first arrested on New Year’s Day after she was said to have laid flowers and placed candles and pictures near the Sogo department store in Causeway Bay, the scene of the attack.

She was also alleged to have images of seditious slogans.

Zeng appeared at West Kowloon magistrates’ court to face an allegation that she committed an act or acts with seditious intention after she was rearrested on Thursday.

The injured police officer shows the scars left after he was the victim of a lone wolf attack outside a Causeway Bay department store two years ago. Photo: Edmond So

The store, on Hennessy Road, is near where Leung Kin-fai, 50, stabbed the officer, who suffered a 10cm (four inch) deep back wound and a punctured lung, before he turned the blade on himself on July 1, 2021.

Leung was rushed to hospital but later certified dead by doctors.

Police at the time logged the case as an attempted murder/suicide.

A charge sheet available for inspection at the court suggested a sketch of Leung was found on Zeng and it was alleged to have carried statements designed to cause disaffection with the government.

Hong Kong police officer has not returned to full duty over a year after attack

Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen, one of the judges hand-picked by the city’s leader to hear national security cases, refused a bail application and adjourned the case until July 28.

The Hong Kong police national security department confirmed on Friday it had arrested a 23-year-old woman the day before on suspicion of committing an act with seditious intention and possessing seditious publications.

The second allegation was not laid against Zeng in court.

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