October 6, 2022
HONG KONG – From Sept 30 to Wednesday, four people were arrested over the alleged desecration of the national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, according to the police.
The alleged acts were made around National Day on Oct 1, when numerous organizations and communities hung such flags in public locations to mark the 73rd anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
On Tuesday, a 36-year-old Moroccan man was arrested on suspicion of desecrating the national flag, regional flag and of criminal damage.
Around 4am on Sunday, the man is alleged to have deliberately damaged 25 bamboo sticks used to hang national and regional flags along Electric Road in North Point. The flags fell to the ground and were run over by vehicles.
Separately, three men aged 19 to 79, were arrested on Friday and Sunday for similar reasons.
Around 4am on Sunday, the man is alleged to have deliberately damaged 25 bamboo sticks used to hang national and regional flags along Electric Road in North Point. The flags fell to the ground and were run over by vehicles
The police urged the public not to challenge the law and reiterated that it is an offense for anyone to publicly and deliberately insult the national flag, national emblem, and the regional flag and emblem of the HKSAR.
Besides, the case of 10 activists who were suspected of attempting to kill police officers with bombs in 2019, was heard at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.
They were charged with conspiracy to commit bombing against a prescribed object under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance. It is the first time in Hong Kong’s history that anyone has been charged under the ordinance. The 10 defendants were also charged with conspiracy to murder Hong Kong police officers.
The court heard that between Aug 1 and Dec 8, 2019, the 10 defendants, together with others, unlawfully and deliberately delivered, placed or detonated two explosive devices to or at specific targets with intent to cause death or serious bodily harm to others.
In December 2019, a large number of weapons, including pistols, bullets and swords, were seized in various areas of Hong Kong, and two homemade bombs weighing a total of 10 kg were seized outside Wah Yan College, Hong Kong in Wan Chai, suspected of being used to harm police officers.
After the hearing on Monday, the case was referred to the High Court.