Independent HK journalist Tang Ho-wing released on bail following sedition arrest

Hong Kong independent journalist Tang Ho-wing, known online as "Boomhead," has been released on bail after his arrest for allegedly acting "with seditious intent." The 37-year-old was detained for nearly two days following his arrest on Wednesday. He was seen being taken away in handcuffs by national security police officers from a residential building in Yau Ma Tei, images released by the local media outlet Sing Tao Daily showed.

Tang is the first publicly known journalist arrested under Hong Kong's 2024 homegrown security law, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, known locally as Article 23.

Tang is the founder of the online media outlet Boom News, which is known for its coverage of Hong Kong's socio-political issues and international reporting. He has around 200,000 followers across multiple social media platforms and runs the outlet full-time. On August 31, 2019, the same day every year since then, Tang posted a video from outside Prince Edward MTR station showing activists chanting "August 31" to mark the anniversary of the former pro-democracy protests. He did not host a livestream that evening.

The arrests come in the wake of an incident on August 31 outside Prince Edward metro station, where some people were standing outside holding bouquets and shouting seditious slogans, according to police. The six people arrested have all been released on bail. All six have been released on bail. The police did not rule out further arrests.

Tang's arrest has drawn concern from the Hong Kong Journalists Association, which expressed deep worry over his arrest and demanded that the authorities disclose the specific allegations against him.