Man charged under new security law

HONG KONG: A man, carrying a “Liberate Hong Kong” sign on Wednesday as he drove a motorcycle into police at a protest against the territory’s Chinese rulers, yesterday became the first person charged with inciting separatism and terrorism under a new security law.

Beijing imposed the legislation on the former British colony earlier this week despite protests from Hong Kongers and Western nations.

Police said Tong Ying-kit, 23, injured some officers at an illegal protest on Wednesday. An online video showed a motorbike knocking over several officers in a narrow street before the driver falls over and is arrested.

Tong, who was hospitalised after the incident, was charged after the city government said the slogan he was carrying – “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” – connotes separatism or subversion under the new law.