News commentator denies unlawfully revealing police meeting details online

Wong Kwok-ngon tells Hong Kong court details of his meeting with national security officers were already public before he discussed them on YouTube

A Hong Kong news commentator accused of violating the national security law has denied exposing police intelligence operations, telling a court that details of his meeting with officers were already public knowledge before he posted them online.

Wong Kwok-ngon, 72, who ran a YouTube commentary channel under the pen name Wong On-yin, stood trial at the District Court on Friday. He is the first person in Hong Kong to be prosecuted for allegedly prejudicing an investigation into national security offences by unlawfully disclosing details of a police interview.

He was also charged with knowingly publishing seditious publications in connection with videos covering local and international news.