Hong Kong Files First Charges Under New Law, Bans Rallying Cry
- ‘Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our time!’ deemed illegal
- Government takes broad reading of China-drafted security law
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Hong Kong filed its first charges under a new security law while declaring illegal a key slogan chanted by hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy protesters over months of rallies, the latest sign that the provision will be used to limit free speech.
In what it called a “solemn statement” late Thursday, the Hong Kong government said the rallying cry “Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our time!” was now illegal under the legislation barring secession, terrorism, subversion of state power and collusion with foreign forces. On Friday, police cited the text of the slogan to charge a 24-year-old man with inciting secession.