Seven charged under national security law

National security police late on Tuesday said they charged seven people each with a count of “conspiracy to incite the commission by other persons of the offence of subversion”, with one suspect as young as 16 years old.

It is reported the suspects, aged 16 to 25, belong to the pro-independence group known as “Returning Valiant”. They were charged under articles 22 and 23 of the national security law.

The seven, include a 16-year-old woman arrested on Tuesday afternoon, a detained 18-year-old woman, along with four men and one woman who have had their bail arrangements revoked.

They will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon for mention.

In July, police arrested nine people from “Returning Valiant” on suspicion of engaging in terrorist activities, with an alleged plot to blow up Hong Kong courts, cross-harbour tunnels and railways.