The second generation of Captain America”, as he has been called, appears in the West Kowloon Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (November 24). The Hong Kong police charged him with violating Hong Kong’s version of the National Security Law and inciting others to split the country. The judge ruled for immediate remand without bail.
John Ma is the third Hong Kong citizen to be formally charged under the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law since it took effect at 11:00 p.m. on June 30, 2012.
Ma was charged with one count of inciting others to secede by repeatedly and publicly preaching secessionist slogans on the street and during media interviews between August 15 and November 22, violating the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law and committing acts that undermine the country. The prosecution filed a motion to adjourn the case in order to obtain closed-circuit television footage, examine five cellphones and take statements from others.
In a magistrate’s court Tuesday, National Security Law Appointed Judge Su Huide postponed Ma’s case until Feb. 10 at the request of the prosecution. Ma shouted to the media as he was escorted away, “The fruit of democracy is irrigated with blood and sweat! He hopes that the media will convey this message to the people of Hong Kong on his behalf.
Before Steven Ma, the first Hong Kong citizen to be arrested for violating Hong Kong’s version of the National Security Law was 23-year-old Tang Yingjie, who was charged by police with riding a motorcycle with a “Restoration of the Hong Kong Era Revolution” banner on it on July 1. Police accuse him of riding a motorcycle with a “Glorious Hong Kong Era Revolution” banner at a police officer on July 1, where he was arrested after knocking down several officers on a narrow street. He was charged with “inciting others to secede” and “terrorist activities. Tang’s arrest came less than 24 hours after the announcement and implementation of Hong Kong’s version of the National Security Law and the arrest of 300 other protesters for participating in protests.
The second Hong Kong resident arrested for allegedly violating Hong Kong’s version of the National Security Law was John Chung, former convenor of the now defunct Hong Kong student organization Student Mobilization. He was arrested by Hong Kong police on October 27 on suspicion of “inciting secession”. “Student Mobilization was a student organization founded by John Chung in 2014 after the Occupy movement in Hong Kong and advocated for Hong Kong’s independence. Hanlin Chung led members of the group to the streets several times during Hong Kong’s anti-sending campaign last year.
Like John Ma, both Tang and Chung were denied bail by the court.
The Hong Kong version of the National Security Law is believed to have been introduced in response to the anti-law amendment controversy that began in Hong Kong last June and the dramatic political changes that have taken place. The law targets what China calls “secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and colluding with foreign countries or forces abroad to endanger the state”.
Analysts believe that since the implementation of the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law, the authorities in Hong Kong have used it to overhaul the media, education, and legislation.
China’s forcible implementation of the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law has caused a strong backlash in Hong Kong and internationally, with constant criticism and condemnation. The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and other countries have taken strong measures in response.
China has stated that the purpose of the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law is to prevent, deter, and punish acts of treason, subversion of state power, and terrorism, and that it targets a very small number of criminals.
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