Hong Kong police have arrested a woman for allegedly wearing a T‑shirt with a seditious message outside West Kowloon Court.
The force said on Monday night that the woman was detained last week on suspicion of disorder in a public place, obstructing police and acting with seditious intention.
“The purpose of the security operation was to ensure public safety and order, though details of the operation cannot be disclosed,” a police spokesman said.
The arrest came hours before judges delivered a verdict against two former leaders of the now‑disbanded alliance behind Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen Square vigil.
Shortly after 5am on Friday, more than 50 people had queued outside the courthouse to cover or hear the judgment against former chairman Lee Cheuk‑yan and former vice‑chairwoman Chow Hang‑tung of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China.
The pair and the alliance were accused of inciting subversion under the national security law by calling for an end to “one‑party dictatorship” in mainland China.
During the wait, a plain‑clothes officer reportedly singled out a woman whose shirt was suspected of carrying seditious intent and escorted her into a police vehicle.
The incident was captured on camera by media, with officers reportedly directing reporters to leave as she was taken away.
A witness told media she was wearing a black T‑shirt printed with Japanese characters.
Hours later, Lee, Chow and the now-disbanded alliance were found guilty of inciting subversion.
In a 216‑page ruling, three High Court judges held that any attempt to overthrow or undermine the Communist Party of China’s leadership could amount to subversion, as the country’s constitution did not permit Western‑style democracy.
Lee, a former lawmaker, and Chow, a barrister, have been in custody for nearly five years. A fourth defendant, former vice‑chairman Albert Ho Chun‑yan, has been detained for more than four years and awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in January. -- South China Morning Post
