Global Financial Market Review

Police say their national security officers have arrested five people on suspicion of conspiring to publish seditious publications which “incite young children’s hatred towards the SAR government”.

The force said the suspects are two men and three women aged 25 to 28, who were arrested on Thursday in different districts.

Officers said the suspects are members of a labour union, which they did not name. The force did not give details about the allegedly offending publications.

Sources said those arrested are from the General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists, and the materials in question are children's books.

“They are suspected of conspiring to publish, distribute, display or reproduce seditious publications between the middle of last year and this year, with an intent to incite the public, especially young children’s hatred towards the SAR government and the judiciary, and to incite the use of violence and disobedience to the law,” the force said.

It added that the five were arrested under section 10 of the Crimes Ordinance – not the national security law.

First convictions of the offence carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Police said some HK$160,000 of the union's assets had also been frozen, adding investigations were ongoing and there may be more arrests.

“The public must recognise the truth, they must not tolerate or glorify violence, and they must not allow the next generation to be incited and led astray by inaccurate and misrepresented information,” police said.