Wong Kwok-ngon, a Hong Kong columnist and commentator, appeared in court on December 9, 2025, on charges of “prejudicing an investigation into a national security offence” and “knowingly publishing seditious material,” according to police and multiple news reports. He was remanded in custody until his next hearing on January 20, 2026.
Police arrested Wong, 71, on December 6 and formally charged him two days later in relation to a series of videos posted to his YouTube account, including content about an apartment complex fire that killed at least 160 people in late November.
Police summoned Wong for questioning on December 2 after he published commentary about the deadly fire and announced plans to hold a press conference seeking accountability. On December 3, Wong uploaded a one-hour video — which has since been removed — to his YouTube channel detailing his questioning by police, said Steve Li, chief superintendent of the National Security Department, at a press conference and those news reports.
Following his arrest, police said in a statement that Wong was suspected of disclosing details about a case that endangered a national security investigation. He was also charged with the offence of knowingly publishing seditious material to his YouTube channel between January 3 and December 6, 2025, with intent to provoke hatred against the government.
Investigators seized 15 electronic devices from Wong, including mobile phones and computers.
Wong’s arrest for prejudicing a national security probe is the first time authorities have applied Section 88 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, police said.
Wong, also known by his pen name Wong On-yin, has been published by several Hong Kong news outlets, including the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, founded by imprisoned publisher Jimmy Lai. He also runs a current affairs YouTube channel and previously hosted news programs on local radio.
The Hong Kong police referred CPJ’s emailed questions about Wong’s case to press releases and a video of a media briefing.