Man with ‘Liberate Hong Kong’ sign who allegedly rammed police is first charged under new China law

A man who carried a sign reading “Liberate Hong Kong” when he allegedly rammed police with his motorcycle became the first person charged under China’s new security law, according to Reuters.

The newly enacted law allows Chinese law enforcement to charge Hong Kong residents with crimes of secession, subversion and terrorism. The law was protested by Hong Kong and Western leaders, including in the U.S. 

According to Reuters, police say 23-year-old Tong Ying-kit rammed and injured some officers at an illegal protest on Wednesday. He was later hospitalized.

The Associated Press reported that Hong Kong police arrested dozens of demonstrators who took the streets on Wednesday to protest the new national security law imposed by China.

Tong was charged less than a day later after officials concluded that his sign, which said “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” suggested separatism or subversion under the new law.

Hong Kong defense barrister Lawrence Lau Wai-chung said that prosecutors had yet to tell him where Tong would be tried and whether there would be a jury, the South China Morning Post reported.

The Trump administration has blasted China over the new law, saying it goes against the “one country, two systems” policy that has long been in place for Hong Kong, the semi-autonomous state.

The U.S. announced in late May that it will no longer recognize Hong Kong as politically autonomous from China.

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation to slap sanctions on Chinese officials who restrict Hong Kong’s autonomy through the law.