National security law: man charged over chanting protest slogans says calling for Hong Kong independence a constitutional right, court hears

Adam Ma, who had called himself a second-generation Captain America, accused of inciting secession in connection with 20 incidents last year

Prosecutors say Ma claimed several times the security law was nothing more than ‘decoration’ and urged people to ‘bravely trample the law and struggle’

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Adam Ma speaks to the press at a Mong Kok shopping centre in October 2020. Photo: Brian Wong

Published: 9:33pm, 28 Sep 2021Updated: 11:18pm, 28 Sep 2021

A former food delivery worker charged over chanting protest slogans had maintained that calling for Hong Kong’s independence was a constitutional right, a court heard as the second trial over national security law offences began on Tuesday.

Adam Ma Chun-man is accused of inciting secession in connection with 20 incidents over a span of 3½ months last year. The 31-year-old had called himself a second-generation Captain America, in reference to a prominent protester who dressed as the fictional character and was seen at the Occupy movement in 2014 and a riot in Mong Kok in 2016.

In their opening statement, prosecutors said Ma had repeatedly flouted the Beijing-imposed legislation on the assumption he could not be arrested for simply exercising his freedom of speech safeguarded by the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.

Prosecutors said Ma had claimed on multiple occasions that the security law was nothing more than “decoration” and offenders would be let off lightly.

He was also said to have encouraged others to further the discussion on Hong Kong independence in preparation for the next “revolution”.

The alleged crimes took place between August 15 and November 22 last year when Ma purportedly promoted the city’s independence by either chanting slogans in shopping centres or sharing his political ideals in media interviews.

Common expressions used by Ma included “Hong Kong independence, the only way out”, “Hongkongers build their country”, “One nation, one Hong Kong”, and “Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times” – a signature slogan of the anti-government protests in 2019.

He had also set up a Facebook page titled “610,000 do not fear arrest” – referring to the turnout of an unofficial primary election held by the opposition camp last year – allegedly saying his intention was to encourage residents to “bravely trample the law and struggle”.