Hong Kong singer, opposition supporter Anthony Wong charged with election offences through live performances in run-up to 2018 legislature contest

Anti-graft agency charges Wong – and the ex-lawmaker he is accused of inducing others to vote for – with engaging in corrupt conduct to provide others with entertainment at an election

Allegations relate to live performances the Canto-pop star gave at a rally in 2018 ahead of by-elections that year

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Anthony Wong, pictured alongside fellow singer Denise Ho, performing in 2014. Photo: SCMP

Published: 12:44pm, 2 Aug 2021Updated: 2:06pm, 8 Sep 2021

Hong Kong graft-busters have charged singer and opposition supporter Anthony Wong Yiu-ming with inducing others to vote for a candidate through live performances on the campaign trail during a Legislative Council by-election in 2018.

Wong, 59, from the Canto-pop duo Tat Ming Pair, and Au Nok-hin, 34, a former opposition lawmaker, are both accused of engaging in corrupt conduct to provide others with entertainment at an election, according to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

The anti-graft agency alleged that Wong had performed two songs on stage at a rally in Central and then appealed to those present to vote for Au at a coming election.

They were both charged on Monday under the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance and are due to appear at Eastern Court on Thursday. Wong has been released on bail.

Ex-opposition lawmaker Au Nok-hin. Photo: Winson Wong

The ICAC said that, from late February 2018, Au had published several posts on his social media page revealing he would hold a two-hour rally at Edinburgh Place in Central on March 3 that year. He announced a few hours before the event that Wong would be performing, the agency said.