Timeline of arrests, prosecutions and sentencing 2023

A regularly updated list of protestors and pro-democracy activists arrested, prosecuted or imprisoned by the Hong Kong government.

Photo: Thomas Chan on Unsplash

Arrests

14th December

  • Hong Kong national security police issue arrest warrants, HK$1 million bounties for 5 overseas activists.(HKFP)

10th December

  • The three activists and they are the members of Hong Kong’s League of Social Democrats(LSD) arrested over protest against ‘patriots’ election as polls open.(HKFP)

  • An arrest warrant has been issued for former district councillor Leos Lee, after he allegedly called on people to boycott Hong Kong’s “patriots-only” District Council race on social media.(HKFP)

  • Two people have been arrested by Hong Kong’s anti-graft watchdog over allegedly encouraging people to cast an invalid ballot in Sunday’s opposition-free District Council election. The woman, who worked as a clerical officer at the government’s Department of Health, and the man, unemployed, were accused of commenting on a social media post “which incited others to put three or more ticks on their ballot papers at the election.(HKFP)

8th December

  • Hong Kong activist Koo Sze-yiu arrested for sedition over plan to protest against ‘unfair’ District Council race. In a statement released on Friday, police said officers from its National Security Department had arrested a 77-year-old man in Cheung Sha Wan that morning on suspicion of attempting or preparing to do an act with a seditious intention.(HKFP)

5th December

  • 2 men said to have ‘anti-gov’t’ stance arrested by Hong Kong police over possessing explosives, hammer, sickle, axe.(HKFP)

29th November

  • Hong Kong nat. security police charge man over wearing alleged ‘seditious’ shirt at airport.(HKFP)

27th October

  • Hong Kong activist Owen Chow has been arrested by national security officers, while in remand, on suspicion of “carrying unauthorised items out of a prison,” with local media reporting that the 26-year-old was arrested along with his two lawyers.(HKFP)

17th October

  • Former Hong Kong district councillor Derek Chu has been arrested on suspicion of breaching the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Schemes Ordinance.(HKFP)

16th October

  • Hong Kong’s anti-graft agency has arrested 20 people on suspicion of withdrawing money from their government pension funds(MPF) using false documents in emigrants’ pension fund claims. (HKFP)

13th October

  • Hong Kong police take man aside after he displayed British colonial flag at football match.(HKFP)

9th October

  • Hong Kong police have arrested an elderly pro-democracy activist on suspicion of breaching country park regulations, after he displayed a pair of Chinese banners on the Lion Rock ahead of Mid-Autumn festival.(HKFP)

1st October

  • Man with white flowers arrested in Hong Kong on China’s National Day holiday.(HKFP)

19th September

  • A 46-year-old man has been arrested by Hong Kong national security police in Hung Hom and charged over suspected “seditious” online content.(HKFP)

29th August

  • Hong Kong national security police arrest 2 in connection with protester relief fund.

  • The two men, aged 33 and 59, were arrested in Tai Po for suspected conspiracy to collude with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security, contravening Article 29 of the National Security Law, and of inciting others to riot.(HKFP)

10th August

  • Hong Kong national security police arrested on Thursday 10 people for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and incitement to riot relating to a now-disbanded fund for pro-democracy protesters. Four men and six women, aged 26 to 43, were arrested on suspicion of conspiring with the "612 Humanitarian Relief Fund" to take donations from organisations abroad to help groups that support people in exile or promote sanctions against Hong Kong, police said in a statement.(Reuters)

7th July

  • Hong Kong police on Wednesday arrested four men they accused of providing financial support to people who fled overseas and are involved in activities endangering national security, escalating a high-profile crackdown on dissidents in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.(The Guardian)

5th July

  • Hong Kong police on Wednesday arrested four men they accused of providing financial support to people who fled overseas and are involved in activities endangering national security, escalating a high-profile crackdown on dissidents in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.(Reuters)

6th June

  • Hong Kong National Security Police arrest six over forging signatures, posting seditious messages online

  • Three men and three women, aged 33 to 64, allegedly conspired to forge signatures on documents.

  • Two suspects were also accused of posting seditious messages on social media. (SCMP)

5th June

  • After the government said, it hoped to establish a cross-border donation mechanism. Hong Kong police arrest 4 for allegedly cancelling registrations on city’s organ donor system without consent after withdrawal surge sparks probe.

  • Four local men arrested for allegedly accessing a computer with dishonest or criminal intentSuspects, aged 19 to 47, including an electronics technician and his brother. (SCMP)

5th June

  • Hong Kong police arrest pro-democracy Figures on Tiananmen Square Anniversary

  • At least 20 people were detained, including activist Alexandra Wong and the leader of the opposition party, as hundreds of police conducted stop-and-search operations. (The Guardian)

4th June

  • A 53-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly obstructing police officers after she refused to show her identity card during a stop and search operation on the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown.

  • Additionally, 11 men and 12 women, aged 20 to 74, were taken from Causeway Bay on Sunday for further investigation on suspicion of breaching the peace, according to the police. (HKFP)

3rd June

  • The police apprehended at least eight people as they sought to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown in Causeway Bay on Saturday. Police confirmed four arrests for alleged sedition and public disorder.

  • Those taken away included two activists and two performance artists. (HKFP)

28th April

  • The 23-year-old was arrested in March after she allegedly posted pro-independence messages online two years ago whilst in Japan. According to its wording, the Hong Kong security law applies to all people internationally. (HKFP)

6th April

  • Hong Kong’s national security police have arrested a man accused of helping a group of fraudsters allegedly linked to “a local extremist gang” – an apparent reference to a self-proclaimed revolutionary organisation called Returning Valiant. (HKFP)

28th March

  • Hong Kong national security police have arrested a 48-year-old woman over “acts with a seditious intention,” reportedly related to posts on Twitter.

  • Police said the woman was suspected of posting “seditious” content on different social media platforms. The posts involved content that police said “incited hatred towards the Hong Kong and central governments, included slogans, promoted Hong Kong independence, incited violent protest, and insulted China’s national flag and anthem.” (HKFP)

17th March

  • Hong Kong’s national security police arrest two for possessing ‘seditious’ children’s books

  • Hong Kong’s national security police arrested two men under the colonial-era sedition law on Monday, the police have said. Both men, aged 38 and 50, were suspected of possessing seditious publications and remain under police detention. (HKFP)

10th March

  • A 23-year-old Hong Kong woman was arrested under the Beijing-imposed national security law on Wednesday, the police have said. She is currently in police custody and under investigation. She has been accused of publishing messages online inciting Hong Kong's independence. (HKFP)

8th March

  • National security police have arrested an activist over suspected foreign collusion, with reports identifying her as the wife of detained former lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan.

  • Elizabeth Tang, the former chief executive of the now-disbanded pro-democracy group Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, was reportedly arrested outside Stanley Prison(HKFP)

18th January

  • Hong Kong’s national security police have arrested six people over the production, publishing, and sale of a “seditious” book on the 2019 protests and unrest. (HKFP)

5th January

  • Hong Kong’s national security police have arrested a 24-year-old man for sedition over his social media posts, including some which called for independence.

    Police said the man arrested on Thursday had also allegedly posted messages from November to December last year inciting others to subvert the Hong Kong and central governments, inciting hatred against the judiciary, and urging a boycott of pandemic measures. (HKFP)

1st January

  • Police arrested a 22-year-old woman on suspicion of sedition after she allegedly displayed a picture with seditious words while commemorating an attacker who stabbed a policeman on July 1, 2021. (RTHK)

Prosecutions

29th December

  • Parents of Hong Kong self-exiled activist Agnes Chow questioned by police – local media(HKFP).

27th December

  • Veteran activist Koo Sze-yiu denied bail for a third time over plan to protest ‘unfair’ District Council race.(HKFP)

21st December

  • Hong Kong court refuses bail bid by activist Chow Hang-tung ahead of national security trial.(HKFP)

  • Last of 12 Hongkongers caught by China during escape bid to plead guilty to 2019 protest charge.(HKFP)

19th December

14th December

  • Hong Kong man with autism pleads not guilty to insulting national anthem at volleyball match.(HKFP)

11th December

  • Hong Kong activist Koo Sze-yiu denied bail following arrest over plan to protest District Council race.(HKFP)

8th December

  • Media tycoon Jimmy Lai among 7 Hong Kong democrats given chance to appeal 2019 protest conviction at top court.(HKFP)

7th December

  • Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil activists appealing judgement in nat. security case to hear verdict within 3 months.(HKFP)

  • Hong Kong woman faces jail for removing devices from home of sister arrested under security law.(HKFP)

29th November

  • Hong Kong nat. security police charge man over wearing alleged ‘seditious’ shirt at airport.(HKFP)

17th November

  • Artist behind ‘freedom’ graffiti across Hong Kong pleads guilty to criminal damage.(HKFP)

16th November

  • Fraud case against 4 who were arrested by Hong Kong nat. security police transferred to higher court.(HKFP)

20th October

  • Hong Kong court dismisses appeal bid from 2 men convicted of rioting in 2019.(HKFP)

18th Octorber

  • 57-year-old Hong Kong man denied bail over alleged ‘seditious’ online content.(HKFP)

29th September

  • Hong Kong protester who hid from authorities pleads guilty to rioting in 2019, perverting the course of justice.(HKFP)

22nd September

  • Hong Kong woman found carrying spanners at 2019 protest denied chance to appeal conviction.(HKFP)

20th September

  • 4 former University of Hong Kong student leaders taken into custody to await sentencing in Oct.(HKFP)

15th September

  • Case involving 4 men charged over Hong Kong’s 2019 Yuen Long mob attack moved to higher court.(HKFP)

6th September

Students found guilty of rioting at Chinese University of Hong Kong denied chance to appeal.(HKFP)

30th August

  • 3 Hongkongers plead guilty to criminal damage charges over vandalism on 2022 Tiananmen crackdown anniversary.(HKFP)

23rd August

  • Hong Kong fugitive protester who allegedly hid out for 2 years pleads guilty to 2019 protest charges.(HKFP)

27th July

  • 10 convicted of rioting near PolyU during 2019 Hong Kong demos, as judges point to protester clothing, gear.(HKFP)

Sentencing

29th December

  • 3 Hong Kong students jailed up to 6 years for ‘terrorism’ over foiled 2021 bomb plot.(HKFP)

21st December

  • Hong Kong woman jailed for 6 months over removing potential evidence against sister arrested under nat. security law.(HKFP)

13th December

  • Nine people will face sentencing over unlawful assembly near the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2019, where intense clashes broke out amid the extradition-bill protests and unrest.(HKFP)

12th December

  • 4 people jailed up to 3 years and 9 months for rioting during Hong Kong’s 2019 unrest.(HKFP)

7th December

  • Artist behind ‘freedom’ graffiti across Hong Kong sentenced to 1-year probation order.(HKFP)

24th November

  • 2 University of Hong Kong students jailed over mourning death of man who stabbed police seek to appeal sentence(HKFP).

  • Hong Kong clerk jailed for 4 months after calling for downfall of China’s Communist Party on online forum.(HKFP)

22nd November

  • 7 people jailed for up to 1 year over 2019 unlawful assembly in Hong Kong.(HKFP)

20th November

  • Hong Kong man jailed for 5 weeks over obstruction of police at Prince Edward MTR station on 31st August 2019.(HKFP)

17th November

  • Hongkonger gets 5 months jail for possessing 2 laser pointers, 4 years after arrest.(HKFP)

3th November

  • Hong Kong student who made ‘seditious’ online posts in Japan jailed for 2 months.(HKFP)

1st November

  • Hong Kong man jailed for 2.5 months over doxxing police officer involved in 2019 Sai Wan Ho shooting.(HKFP)

  • 6 jailed for 5 years for rioting near besieged Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2019.(HKFP)

30th October

  • Elderly busker who played protest song ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ will serve 30-day jail sentence after retracting appeal.(HKFP)

27th October

  • Hong Kong student pleads guilty to posting ‘seditious’ online speech whilst in Japan, faces up to 2 years jail.(HKFP)

18th October

  • 3 fugitive Hong Kong protesters and man who helped hide them jailed for up to 1 year and 8 months(HKFP)

  • Hong Kong student shot by police during 2019 protest jailed for 3.5 years for rioting, assaulting officer.(HKFP)

11th October

  • 5 jailed for up to 3 years and 1 month over false imprisonment of plainclothes police officer during 2019 protest.(HKFP)

6th October

  • Hong Kong man jailed for 4 months over importing ‘seditious’ children’s books.(HKFP)

5th October

25th September

  • Head of Hong Kong journalist group Ronson Chan sentenced to 5 days’ jail over obstructing police officer while reporting.(HKFP)

19th September

  • Hongkonger jailed for 2.5 years for rioting during 2019 protest when she was 16.(HKFP)

1st September

  • Hong Kong pro-democracy singer jailed for 2 years and 2 months over sedition and money-laundering charges.(HKFP)

24th August

  • 6 months jail for Hongkonger convicted of inciting others on internet forum to harm police.(HKFP)

15th August

  • Hong Kong man sentenced to 4 months in jail in absentia over posts threatening to bomb national security judge.(HKFP)

31st July

  • Hong Kong social worker sentenced to 21 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, for doxxing police officer.(HKFP)

21st July

  • 3 months’ jail for first person tried under national anthem law over use of protest song ‘Glory to Hong Kong’.(HKFP)