He appeared in West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday to face the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment. The man was initially arrested on July 9 in Eastern District, but his arrest was not publicly disclosed at the time. The case has been adjourned to December 15 for a plea.

This case marks the second instance in recent months where a national security offense was only made public after a formal charge was laid, deviating from the usual police practice of publicizing such arrests. Last month, a 61-year-old woman was similarly charged with displaying seditious publications outside her home, with her case also revealed only after her court appearance.

The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, enacted on March 23, 2024, targets offenses including treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, sedition, theft of state secrets, and espionage. The ordinance allows for pre-charge detention of up to 16 days, with potential restrictions on lawyer access and penalties up to life imprisonment.