Woman arrested for sedition outside Hong Kong court ahead of Tiananmen vigil verdict

A 45-year-old woman was arrested by Hong Kong police outside the West Kowloon Law Courts Building on suspicion of sedition, public disorder, and obstructing officers just hours before the verdict in a high-profile national security case involving former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China. The arrest occurred in the early hours of Friday as supporters gathered outside the courthouse awaiting the ruling on Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan, both former leaders of the now-disbanded Alliance.

Police confirmed the detention to local media, stating the woman was held under Section 23 of Hong Kong’s local security law, which criminalizes acts with "seditious intention." The offense carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment, increasing to 10 years if the act is alleged to involve foreign forces. The woman was taken into police custody around 5 a.m. and is currently being held for investigation.

According to The Collective, a support group for the defendants, the woman had been queuing for public gallery seats to attend the verdict hearing for Chow and Lee. Both activists are accused of inciting subversion for slogans calling for the end of one-party rule, which prosecutors argued amounted to calls to overthrow the Chinese Communist Party. The Hong Kong Alliance, which organized Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen vigils, was also on trial and announced its disbandment in September 2021.

A witness in the queue told media that the woman was wearing a black t-shirt with Japanese characters. The case has drawn international attention, with human rights groups expressing concern over the convictions, while government officials in Hong Kong defended the ruling. The Alliance’s legal proceedings were adjourned on Friday for mitigation statements.

Hong Kong Free Press has reached out to police for further comment but has not received a response at the time of reporting. The incident underscores the ongoing scrutiny of public assemblies and political expression in Hong Kong under the national security framework. The case remains ongoing as legal proceedings continue in the city’s courts.

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