Political commentator Wong On-yin to appear in court charged with incitement

A 71-year-old former Civil Human Rights Front convener and political commentator, Wong On-yin, has become the first person formally charged under Article 88 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance after police accused him of obstructing a national security investigation and publishing seditious material.

National Security Department officers arrested Wong in Sheung Shui on December 6. He is alleged to have disclosed details of an ongoing probe despite warnings and to have posted inflammatory content following the Wang Fuk Court fire.

Prosecutors have filed one count each of obstructing an investigation into national security offenses and knowingly publishing seditious publications.

Both carry a maximum seven-year jail term upon conviction.

The case marks the first use of Article 88 since the ordinance took effect in March.

Wong is scheduled to appear at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.