Koo Sze-yiu Denied Bail Over Sedition Charge

Veteran activist Koo Sze-yiu has been remanded in custody after a court denied him bail over a sedition charge on Saturday.

The 75-year-old is accused of planning a protest against the Beijing Winter Olympics outside the Liaison Office in Sai Wan on Friday. He was arrested by national security police before any protest could take place.

Koo is charged with attempting or making preparations to do acts with seditious intention on February 4, in violation of the Crimes Ordinance.

Prosecutors accused him of intending to bring hatred, contempt or disaffection against the Hong Kong government and the administration of justice here, to raise discontent among Hong Kong people and to counsel disobedience of the law, among other things.

At the Kowloon City Magistracy, national security magistrate Peter Law rejected Koo’s bail application.

The prosecution also said the police will continue their investigations into evidence they had seized, including mobile phones, and did not rule out making further arrests.

The case has been adjourned until April 1.