RAPID RESPONSE | September 5, 2026
Hong Kong police have arrested three people over alleged seditious conduct connected to an August 31 remembrance outside Prince Edward MTR station. The allegations have not been adjudicated.
Holding flowers, remembering a disputed historical event and expressing political views should not by themselves establish criminal intent. Authorities should disclose the specific words and conduct relied upon, preserve access to counsel and judicial review, and avoid treating remembrance itself as evidence of sedition.
Update, September 8: Public reporting confirms that two of the three arrested citizens have been released on police bail. We have not found comparable confirmation for the remaining arrestee. The Free China Movement calls for that person’s immediate release if still held solely for peaceful remembrance or nonviolent expression.
Peaceful commemoration can never be a crime in any civilized society. Flowers, remembrance and nonviolent expression must not be transformed into evidence of criminal intent.
National-security laws must be applied narrowly, transparently and consistently with fundamental freedoms.
News + Editorial: Hong Kong National-Security Police Arrest Three Over Prince Edward Remembrance
Formal Press Release: FCM Condemns Hong Kong Arrests Over Prince Edward Remembrance
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