Veteran Hong Kong journalist arrested by national security police over sedition allegations
- A police source said articles written by suspect Allan Au and published on the now-defunct online outlet Stand News were alleged to have incited hatred against the government
- Both city leader Carrie Lam and chief executive hopeful John Lee declined to comment on the particulars of the arrest, but maintained that press freedom was well protected in Hong Kong
A teaching consultant at Chinese University’s journalism school was arrested by Hong Kong national security police on Monday morning for allegedly conspiring to publish and reproduce seditious materials.
The suspect, 54-year-old Allan Au Ka-lun, was also a veteran journalist who had worked at local media outlets TVB and RTHK, and had shared his political views in columns for various publications and on social media.
Au was arrested at his home in Highland Park in Kwai Chung by officers from the force’s National Security Department at about 6.30am under a colonial-era law covering conspiracy to print or distribute seditious material. The offence is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of HK$5,000 (US$638).
A police source said that articles written by Au and published on the now-defunct online outlet Stand News were alleged to have incited hatred against the government.
Au was released without being charged from Kwai Chung Police Station at 11.35pm. He did not respond to media inquiries. He must report back in mid-July.
Without naming the suspect, the department only said in a statement that officers had arrested a 54-year-old man in Kwai Chung for conspiracy to publish seditious materials, contravening Sections 9 and 10 of the Crimes Ordinance.
“Investigation is under way and further arrests may be made,” the statement read.
Au was the eighth suspect to be arrested by national security police in connection with Stand News. The news outlet dismissed all its staff and shut down in December after seven others were arrested for publishing allegedly seditious material. Police also froze HK$61 million worth of Stand News’ assets.