Charge is the latest in a string of allegations brought by the city’s antigraft watchdog against pro-democracy figures in the city
Hong Kong pop singer Anthony Wong Yiu-ming was arrested on Monday as local authorities continue their crackdown on opposition figures.
Officers from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) arrested Wong in relation to his performance at a by-election campaign rally on March 3, 2018, with the agency saying his singing of two songs at the event on behalf of candidate Au Nok-hin violated an ordinance barring anyone from providing food, drink or entertainment to influence voters.
Au beat three rivals to win that Legislative Council election, but was later removed from office after the courts queried the government’s handling of the disqualification of Agnes Chow, the opposition camp’s original nominee for the seat.
Already in custody on national security law charges over his participation in a 2019 opposition primary, Au was also arrested in the new case on Monday.
Wong, a 59-year-old Cantopop singer-songwriter known for supporting the city’s democracy movement and advocating for LGBT rights, sang his popular tune of “A Forbidden Fruit A Day” during Au’s rally.
The song, which debuted in 1996, referenced the now-closed pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily.
“It’s a song about Hong Kongers. We should not disqualify ourselves from making our own choices,” Wong said then. “We need to choose the fruit we want to eat.”
Wong was released on bail later Monday and he and Au are due to enter pleas in court on Thursday. If convicted, he faces a potential seven-year prison term and 500,000 Hong Kong dollar fine ($64,333).
An ICAC spokesperson said in a statement on Monday that providing others with entertainment at an election is “a serious offense.”
“Candidates, election agents, helpers and members of the public are reminded to refrain from offering food, drinks or entertainment during an election in exchange for votes,” the spokesperson said, adding that the commission has commenced a series of “multifaceted education and publicity programs to promote a clean election culture.”
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Hong-Kong-pop-star-Anthony-Wong-arrested-for-singing-at-rally
