HK police charge 19-year-old woman with seditious acts linked to subversive organization

Hong Kong’s National Security Department has charged a 19-year-old woman for allegedly producing promotional videos for a subversive organization and using social media to urge others to vote to undermine central and local authorities, police announced on Tuesday.

The accused, Lan Fei, is understood to be the former girlfriend of designated absconder Tony Lam and is suspected of joining the Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union with Lam last year. 

Both subsequently fled to Taiwan and participated in the illegal election of the self-styled "Hong Kong Parliament."

It is understood that Lam’s application for political asylum was rejected by Taiwanese authorities, leading to his deportation. 

The pair later relocated to Canada, where Lan allegedly produced promotional videos for the subversive organization under instruction. 

These videos, distributed via social media platforms, encouraged participation in the illegal election. Lan later returned to Hong Kong alone.

The National Security Department stated that the woman was charged with one count of "doing with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention." 

She is accused of producing videos promoting the "Hong Kong Parliament" between March and May this year and using social media to call for votes intended to overthrow or undermine the body of the central power of the People's Republic of China or the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Lan made her first appearance at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts this afternoon. She was not required to enter a plea at this stage. 

The defense applied for an adjournment until October 31 to review case documents and obtain legal advice, which was approved by Designated National Security Law Judge Victor So Wai-tak. 

The defense must notify the court of the intended plea direction by October 24. The bail application was denied, and the defendant was remanded in custody pending further proceedings.

Police emphasized that the offense is serious and carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment upon first conviction.