Hong Kong police have warned residents against downloading a mobile game application advocating Hong Kong and Taiwanese independence or risk breaking national security laws.
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The force also said on Tuesday that action had been taken under the Beijing-imposed national security law to allow police to require the relevant electronic platforms to remove access to the game Reversed Front: Bonfire, which was developed by ESC Taiwan and released in April.
Individuals who downloaded the app could be considered in possession of a seditious publication, contravening domestic security legislation, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, police said.
It added that those who provided money or financial assistance to the game’s developer, including making in-app purchases, with the intent to fund it acts of secession or subversion of state power, also risk committing an offence under the national security law.
“Reversed Front: Bonfire was released under the guise of a game with the aim of promoting secessionist agendas such as ‘Taiwan independence’ and ‘Hong Kong independence’, advocating armed revolution and the overthrow of the fundamental system of the People’s Republic of China [PRC] established by the constitution of the People’s Republic of China,” national security police said.
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“It also has an intention to provoke hatred towards the central authorities and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”
Police added that anyone or any organisation that knowingly published the application, including sharing or recommending it online, would also risk contravening offences of inciting secession and subversion under the national security law, as well as seditious intention offences in the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.