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Hong Kong courts
Hong KongLaw and Crime

Hong Kong opposition activist Tam Tak-chi first person charged under colonial-era sedition law since city’s return to China in 1997

  • Leading figure of localist group People Power faces a total six counts over uttering seditious words and disorderly conduct in public places
  • Tam appeared in Fanling Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon after spending more than 48 hours in police custody

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Tam Tak-chi speaks at a Civil Human Rights Front protest against the banning of the Hong Kong National Party, in 2018. Photo: Edmond So
Jack LauandBrian Wong

Opposition activist Tam Tak-chi, the first person to be charged with sedition since Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997, has been remanded in custody after a court was told he issued calls for the city’s liberation and disbanding of its police force.

The leading figure of localist group People Power faced on Tuesday five counts of uttering seditious words, and another of disorderly conduct in public, over allegations the 48-year-old stirred up hatred against the government and police by chanting slogans widely shared by anti-government protesters during last year’s social unrest.

The sedition charges stated Tam – whose bail application was rejected by Fanling Magistrates’ Court – made speeches on five occasions in as many places in Kowloon between March 15 and July 19, according to the prosecution’s filing.

Prosecutor Anthony Chau Tin-hang said the seditious remarks made by Tam included chanting “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” and “Five demands, not one less”, both of which emerged last year as rallying calls for the demonstrations sparked by the now-withdrawn extradition bill.

His other chants targeted police, including “Rogue cops and their families go to hell”, “Disband the police force”, and another criticising officers’ handling of the protests, Chau said.

The sixth count referred to Tam using “threatening, abusive or insulting words” with intent to provoke a breach of the peace outside a shopping centre in Ngau Tau Kok on March 15.

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