Opposition activist Tam Tak-chi, better known as “Fast Beat” in his radio career, will be mentioned at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday afternoon after his arrest last Sunday. Tam is charged with four counts of “uttering seditious words,” sources say.

Tam, vice president of radical democratic party People Power, was arrested by the national security police squad from his home in the North East New Territories last Sunday. But according to senior superintendent Li Kwai-wah, Tam was detained under the Crimes Ordinance’s section ten, a legislation enacted during the British colonial era.

The former radio presenter has been held for over 48 hours since his arrest at 10 a.m. on Sunday, the day that the now-postponed Legislative Council elections were supposed to take place.

Tam was arrested in July for inciting others to take part in an unauthorized assembly and released on a bail of HK$10,000 (US$1,290). The next mention in court was scheduled on Sep. 25.

The legal sector has blasted the authorities for arresting Tam with an outdated common law charge from the British colonial era, which has not been used for several decades and was designed to suppress anti-government expressions during the 1967 riots.

Speaking to the press before the weekly Executive Council meeting, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said it did not matter whether the law was enacted before or after 1997. “We have this piece of legislation. If there is evidence someone breaks it, the law enforcement needs to take action.”

Hong Kong’s freedom of speech is restricted by the law under certain circumstances, such as in relation to “defending national security law, public order and public health,” said Lam. As the Chief Executive, she would not comment on the prosecution work of the Department of Justice, which should be free of interference under the Basic Law.

“As long as everyone’s report is objective and fair, and no one breaks the law, Hong Kong’s freedom of the press remains solid,” Lam added.

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