Owen Chow arrested for violating bail conditions and publishing political remarks

Activist Owen Chow Ka-shing has been arrested by national security police again on Wednesday for violating bail conditions and publishing remarks that endanger national security. 

Chow, 24, was charged with conspiracy to subvert the state in February last year for his participation in the pro-democracy camp primary election in 2020. He was released on bail on June 22 last year. 

Chow was arrested on Wednesday night for violating bail conditions when he reported to North Point Police Station, according to a Facebook post published by his team. He will be remanded in custody overnight and appear in West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday afternoon. 

It was understood that Chow was arrested again for continuously publishing political remarks on Facebook, including remarks about the August 31, 2019 incident that took place at Prince Edward MTR station, to incite public’s hatred towards the government. 

He suspectedly violated the bail conditions by twisting the remarks made by Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung and inciting the public not to leave their homes on Legislative Council election day as well, which could be further interpreted as inciting others not to cast their votes on the election day. 

Police also warned that those who published remarks on social media on behalf of the prisoners or detainees would also face legal consequences if the remarks they published online were found to be illegal.