HONG KONG / WASHINGTON, September 30, 2026; updated October 8, 2026 — Hong Kong authorities arrested Boom News founder Tang Ho-wing and activist Lee Ying-chi on September 30 in connection with an August 31 sedition investigation, according to reporting by the Associated Press and Hong Kong media.
Police said a man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of seditious acts under Hong Kong’s 2024 national-security law but did not identify them in their public statement. Media identified them as Tang and Lee. The allegations concern activity outside Prince Edward MTR station on August 31. Police allegations remain allegations and are attributed here as such.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association expressed concern about Tang’s arrest and sought clarification on whether his journalistic work was implicated. AP reported the association described this as the first known sedition-related arrest of a journalist under the 2024 law.
Update: released on bail
Reporters Without Borders confirms that Tang was released on bail at midnight on October 2 after about 48 hours in detention. The Hong Kong Democracy Council subsequently reported that Lee was also released on bail. Release on bail does not end the investigation or establish that the allegations were withdrawn; no judicial determination of criminal liability was identified in the public record reviewed for this update.
Post-summit context
The arrests came five days after Xi Jinping concluded a state visit to Washington. Before the summit, USCIRF publicly urged President Trump to raise religious-freedom prisoners and China’s religious-freedom repression with Xi. Free China Movement separately urged attention to political prisoners and Hong Kong freedoms.
Free China Movement says the arrests reinforce its argument that human-rights concerns require sustained follow-up after high-level diplomacy. Free China Movement does not claim the state visit caused the arrests.
Free China Movement position: Seeking truth, journalism and peaceful remembrance should not be treated as sedition. Governments should seek clarity about the charges and continue monitoring whether national-security laws are being used against protected expression and journalism.
Sources
- Associated Press, September 30, 2026
- Reporters Without Borders: Tang Ho-wing bail update
- Hong Kong Democracy Council: Lee Ying-chi bail update
- USCIRF, September 14, 2026
- USCIRF, September 18, 2026
Simplified Chinese counterpart: 习近平访美五天后，香港以涉嫌煽动拘捕记者邓浩荣与行动者李盈姿