Nat. security police reportedly arrest independent journalist over ‘fake news’

Skip to content Hong Kong’s national security police have reportedly arrested an independent journalist behind an online news outlet on suspicion of publishing fake news. Tang Ho-wing in a YouTube video. Photo: Screenshot via Boom News. According to a report by Sing Tao Headline on Wednesday, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force carried out the arrest of journalist Tang Ho-wing, who runs the online news outlet Boom News, at 7am that morning. The Facebook page of Boom News. Photo: Screenshot via Facebook. Tang, under the moniker “Boomhead,” runs pages for the news outlet on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, as well as YouTube. HKFP’s calls to the journalist’s phone number went straight to voicemail. Sing Tao was apparently the only news outlet at the scene of the arrest. The report cited sources as saying that Tang was arrested on suspicion of disseminating false information, a story later reported by other local news outlets including HK01 and i-Cable. The wording in the Chinese-language reports suggests that he was arrested for spreading false information either for the purpose of incitement or sedition. HKFP has reached out to the police for confirmation. Safeguard press freedom; keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps Make a one-off donation. Founded in 2015, Hong Kong Free Press is an impartial, non-profit, award-winning English-language newspaper. Run by journalists, backed by readers and 100% independent, HKFP is governed by a public Code of Ethics. If there are uncertainties relating to safety or security, we may use an "HKFP Staff" byline. More on our Ethics & Policies. More by Hong Kong Free Press