Yung Cheong-ming, a Hong Kong man who was charged with incitement after making online comments following a police stabbing incident, appeared in court to clarify that he did not intend to encourage others to harm officers. The incident occurred on July 1, 2021, when a man stabbed a police officer on the anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to mainland China. Yung’s comments on the online forum LIHKG were seen as potentially inciting violence against police officers.
Evidence presented in court showed that Yung’s comments included violent language, such as suggesting to “stab where the small intestines are” and to “stab his father and mother to death.” The prosecution argued that these remarks could have encouraged others to unlawfully harm police officers, especially given the social unrest and the context of the attempted murder-suicide.
During his police interview, Yung admitted to making the comments and mentioned that he was influenced by anti-police sentiment at the time. He also stated that he did not consider the consequences of his actions and chose to post anonymously on LIHKG. The defence, however, maintained that Yung did not have the intention to incite violence and that his comments did not amount to incitement.
The prosecution called two witnesses, both police detectives, to testify regarding the cybercrime investigation. One detective explained that comments on the online forum would be automatically removed if profiles were deleted, which could explain why Yung’s comments were not visible on the original post. The detective also mentioned that while the thread did not gain much traction initially, it likely garnered attention around the time of the stabbing incident.
The court adjourned the hearing to review a video recording of Yung’s police interview in full. The case highlights the complexities of navigating online speech and the potential consequences of incendiary comments in the digital age. It also raises questions about the boundaries of free speech and the responsibility of individuals when expressing opinions online.
