Teenager convicted of sedition for writing slogans in China Hong Kong City toilet
22nd July 2026 – (Hong Kong) An 18-year-old man has been convicted of sedition after writing inflammatory slogans on three separate occasions inside a shopping centre toilet in Tsim Sha Tsui. The case was heard at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts, where Leung Kai-lok denied the charge. Prosecutors alleged that in July last year he repeatedly […]
Image copyright: Dimsumdaily. hk22nd July 2026 – (Hong Kong) An 18-year-old man has been convicted of sedition after writing inflammatory slogans on three separate occasions inside a shopping centre toilet in Tsim Sha Tsui. The case was heard at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts, where Leung Kai-lok denied the charge. Prosecutors alleged that in July last year he repeatedly inscribed seditious messages on the walls of a men’s lavatory on the 11th floor of Tower 3 at China Hong Kong City. He was subsequently arrested inside the same toilet. During the trial, the defence argued that Leung suffers from autism and dissociative disorder, contending that his medical condition had influenced his actions at the time of the offences. Counsel also challenged the admissibility of his recorded statements, claiming that police had interviewed him without a caution and in the absence of family members or legal representation, and suggesting that his admissions should therefore be excluded. The prosecution’s expert witness disputed the extent of the defendant’s alleged conditions, indicating that autism was unlikely. Officers who conducted the interviews said they had not observed any unusual mental state during their meetings with him. In delivering his verdict, Chief Magistrate Victor So Wai-tak, a judge designated under the National Security Law, said he had repeatedly reviewed footage of four police interviews with the defendant. He found that Leung demonstrated normal concentration and that his gaze shifted naturally in response to his surroundings. Although there was occasional twitching at the corners of his mouth, the magistrate noted that this was not markedly different from ordinary behaviour and did not suggest a mental disorder. The court further ruled that the questions posed by officers had been straightforward and that the defendant, who was assessed as having normal intelligence, was capable of understanding them. While his replies were generally brief, they were clear and delivered without hesitation. The magistrate rejected the defence expert’s opinion and concluded that Leung’s confession had been made voluntarily and was not the result of autism or dissociative disorder. The court also found that the slogans referred to two former Chief Executives and were capable of inciting hatred. Noting that the lavatory walls were smooth and that the defendant had brought a pen suitable for writing on such surfaces, the magistrate said this demonstrated clear intent. Leung was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 12th August.