Three held over Prince Edward Station memorial gathering
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong police said three people were arrested on Thursday over a gathering outside Prince Edward MTR station on August 31, where they allegedly shouted slogans and held white flowers. Authorities said the case involves suspected seditious acts under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, linked to claims surrounding the 2019 Prince Edward station protest flashpoint.
Key Points
- Police said two local men and one local woman, aged between 33 and 79, were arrested on Thursday by the National Security Department.
- The force said the three had stood outside Prince Edward MTR station on the evening of August 31 holding bouquets or white flowers and shouting allegedly seditious slogans.
- According to police, the suspects were believed to have spread false information, attacked the Hong Kong SAR government with lies, and smeared the police to incite hatred.
- The arrests were made for the offence of doing an act with seditious intention under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.
- Police said exhibits were seized from the arrestees’ residences, while all three were being detained for further enquiries.
- Prince Edward MTR station became a major flashpoint during the 2019 anti-government protests after riot police entered train carriages on August 31, 2019 and used batons and pepper spray. The episode later led to claims that people had died inside the station, allegations that police and government officials have repeatedly denied.
- Memorial gatherings outside the station later became a near-monthly occurrence, and at least 14 people were arrested in the Prince Edward area during a 2020 memorial gathering. Police said the so-called “831 incident” had been proven to be without factual basis and described it as a lie spread by people with ulterior motives.
Why It Matters
The arrests show that commemorative acts linked to the 2019 unrest can still trigger national security enforcement, especially when police say slogans or symbols are tied to false claims. For Hong Kong readers, the case also indicates that authorities remain focused on public remembrance activities around politically sensitive anniversaries.