First Prosecution Under Hong Kong Security Law: "Even Post-it Notes Posted in Restaurants Violate the Law"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] As the "Hong Kong National Security Law" (Hong Kong Security Law) came into full effect on the 1st, a protester who drove a motorcycle and charged at the police at a demonstration site became the first person to be prosecuted under the Hong Kong Security Law.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 3rd, Hong Kong police charged a 23-year-old man with violating the Hong Kong Security Law for attacking police officers during an anti-Hong Kong Security Law protest in downtown Hong Kong on the 1st.

At the time, the man was arrested after charging at riot police with a "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times" flag attached to his motorcycle at a protest site in the Wan Chai area. He was charged with inciting national division and terrorism.

The Hong Kong Security Law prohibits and punishes collusion with foreign forces, national division, subversion of state power, terrorist acts, and establishes institutions within Hong Kong to enforce these provisions.

On the 1st, 370 people were arrested at the protest site, among whom 10 individuals?6 men and 4 women?are facing charges under the Hong Kong Security Law.

The hearing for the man was scheduled for the afternoon of the same day but was not held due to his hospitalization. The hearing is now set for the 6th.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong government warned that the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times," frequently chanted by protesters since last year's demonstrations, carries the meaning of advocating Hong Kong independence and national division, urging people "not to break the law." In response, Dennis Kwok, a member of the opposition Civic Party, criticized this as a tactic to disqualify opposition lawmakers who have participated in protests from running in the upcoming Legislative Council election in September.

According to the Hong Kong Security Law, anyone convicted of violating this law is barred from running in elections and holding public office.

Hong Kong police also warned that post-it notes with messages criticizing the government, written by customers and posted on restaurant walls, could be considered violations of the Hong Kong Security Law.

In response, many restaurants that had expressed support for protesters and were known as "yellow restaurants" began removing these post-it notes. In Hong Kong, yellow symbolizes the protest movement. A smartphone application introducing "yellow restaurants" in Hong Kong also disappeared from app stores on the same day.