District Court begins national security trial

The District Court on Tuesday began hearing the trial of a man charged with inciting secession, with prosecutors accusing him of repeatedly advocating independence in rallies and media interviews last year.

Ma Chun-man, dubbed “Captain America 2.0”, is accused of inciting others to commit secession on around 20 occasions between August and November in 2020.

Opening the case, prosecutors said the defendant had urged people on social media to join his various rallies after the national security law was enacted.

The court was told that Ma had shouted slogans such as “Hong Kong independence, the only way out,” and “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times” in sing-along protests and activities held in shopping malls across the city.

Ma had also told reporters in different interviews that he wanted more people to gather together regularly to promote Hong Kong independence, and that he wanted the idea to spread in schools, prosecutors said.

Ma was quoted as saying that he wanted to prove to people that the national security law was just an “ornament” and it was legal for people to discuss Hong Kong independence.

According to prosecutors, Ma said in an interview that the “liberate” slogan meant overthrowing the SAR government and taking back Hong Kong’s sovereignty from the People’s Republic of China.

The prosecution is expected to summon two police witnesses for the trial.

Ma has been remanded in custody for 10 months since his arrest in November.

His trial comes after the High Court sentenced former waiter Tong Ying-kit, the first person charged under the national security law, to nine years behind bars in July for inciting secession and terrorism.