Hong Kong singer Anthony Wong arrested over election rally performance
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog has arrested Cantonpop singer Anthony Wong Yiu-ming and former lawmaker Au Nok-hin for breaching electoral law by singing at a pro-democracy campaign rally three years ago.
Wong, 59, and Au, 34, are both charged with engaging in corrupt conduct by providing entertainment to induce others to vote at the Legislative Council by-election in 2018, according to Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Monday.
The watchdog alleged that Wong performed two songs on stage at a campaign rally and urged participants to vote for Au at the election.
Au, who eventually won the election, shared the video of Wong’s performance and his appeal to attendees on his social media and reported the video as his election advertisements, ICAC said.
The watchdog added that providing others with refreshments and entertainment at an election is “a corrupt conduct and a serious offence”.
If convicted, both could be jailed for up to seven years and fined HK$500,000 (£46,188), according to the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.
Wong was released on bail. The prominent Cantopop singer has been an outspoken supporter of the city’s pro-democracy Umbrella Movement in 2014 and the Anti-Extradition Bill protest in 2019. He is also a vocal advocate of LGBT rights.
Meanwhile, Au has been in jail since March. Au was sentenced to 10-month imprisonment for organising and participating in an unauthorised assembly. He is on remand awaiting trial along with 46 other democrats for alleged conspiracy to commit subversion under the national security law.
The duo will appear in court on Thursday to plead.