Vandal held after seditious writings on the back of seats on public buses

Adelyn Lau

A 29-year-old man was remanded in jail custody after being charged by the national security police for writing seditious words and slogans on the back of seats on public buses multiple times between March and April.

No plea was taken yesterday as the designated national security law judge and chief West Kowloon magistrate, Victor So Wai-tak, acceded to the prosecution's request to adjourn the case to August 22 pending further police investigation.

Chung Man-kit did not apply for bail and was remanded in jail custody until his next court appearance.

Chung is facing three counts of sedition under the new domestic Safeguarding National Security Ordinance - legislated on March 23 by enacting Basic Law Article 23 - along with two counts of destroying or damaging property.

The court was told that Chung, a clerk, wrote statements and publicly displayed them on the backs of passenger seats on buses on several occasions between March 23 and April 21.

"His acts intended to bring a Chinese citizen, Hong Kong permanent resident or a person in Hong Kong into hatred, contempt or disaffection against the fundamental system of the state established by the constitution of the People's Republic of China," the prosecution said.

Chung's acts also intended to bring them into hatred, contempt or disaffection against the constitutional order, executive, legislative or judicial authority of Hong Kong or incite people to "procure the alteration of any matter established by China and Hong Kong laws," added the prosecution.

He was also charged with destroying or damaging the back of passenger seats - property of Citybus - inside public buses with the license plate numbers PH6010 and PP1750 on April 2 and April 18, respectively, without lawful excuse.

The police's national security department said the contents of the writings "provoked hatred toward the central authorities and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region."

Sources said the words and slogans written on the passenger seats are related to "Hong Kong independence" and overthrowing state powers.

adelyn.lau@singtaonewscorp.com