Hong Kong charged four people on Thursday over social media posts telling others not to vote in an upcoming election, while city officials pressed on with a publicity drive to boost turnout.
Beijing revamped Hong Kong’s electoral system in 2021 to ensure that only “patriots” could hold office, and the December 7 poll will select a second batch of lawmakers under those rules.
Authorities charged a 68-year-old retiree with the national security crime of “seditious publication”, saying he had repeatedly published posts online that provoked hatred towards the government and incited others not to vote.
Offenders face up to seven years in prison.
Three others, two men and a woman aged between 55 and 61, were charged with reposting content inciting others not to vote, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in jail and a fine of HK$200,000 ($25,700).