A 43-year-old man from Hong Kong was arrested underneath the nation’s sedition regulation whereas he was paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II outdoors town’s British consulate on Monday.
The person, recognized within the native media solely by his second identify Pang, was arrested for enjoying songs on his harmonica, together with the British nationwide anthem and “Glory To Hong Kong” — a preferred music throughout pro-democracy protests three years in the past.
“Glory to Hong Kong” is banned in faculties, although the federal government has refused to say if singing or taking part in it’s unlawful.
Many applauded his efficiency and shone their cellphone lights outdoors the consulate. However later police questioned Mr Pang and detained him for “seditious acts”.
The arrest marks the primary time somebody was arrested underneath the British colonial-era regulation for enjoying music.
Within the week since Queen Elizabeth’s demise, greater than 13,000 folks have signed a condolence ebook within the metropolis’s British consulate, information companies reported.
Lots of of Hong Kongers waited for hours to signal the ebook and left flowers on the sidewalk. Some have waved British flags and posted indicators studying “I really like Hong Kong”. Lots of have left candles, drawings and greeting playing cards outdoors the consulate’s partitions too.
The British consulate closed the ebook of condolences because the Queen was laid to relaxation at Windsor Citadel in Britain on Monday following a state funeral attended by world leaders.
A former training minister in Hong Kong stated the music needs to be banned in faculties, whereas town’s state-owned press stated it incites requires independence. Judges have additionally dominated {that a} protest slogan contained in its lyrics — “liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our instances” — may endanger nationwide safety.
