Man charged by ICAC gets two months’ jail for inciting others not to vote at LegCo Election on internet
2026-4-29
A man charged by the ICAC was today (April 29) sentenced to two months’ imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts after admitting that he had reposted an online post on his social media page to incite others not to vote at the 2025 Legislative Council General Election (LegCo Election) during the election period.
Wong Wah-kwong, 63, security guard, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in illegal conduct to incite another person not to vote by activity in public during election period, contrary to section 27A(1)(a) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO).
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Amy Chan Wai-mun remarked that the Government spent substantial financial resources and human effort in organising the LegCo Election to elect capable individuals to advance Hong Kong’s social development through a sound electoral process. No one was allowed to interfere with the election.
The magistrate added that the circumstances of the present case was extremely serious, as the defendant reposted a social media post to incite others not to vote in the election while deliberately leaving a comment with ulterior motives. Given the widespread dissemination of the post, the risk of undermining the electoral system could not be disregarded, warranting an immediate deterrent custodial sentence. The court took a starting point of three months’ imprisonment for sentencing and reduced the jail term by one-third to two months in view of the guilty plea.
The court heard that nominations for the 2025 LegCo Election opened from October 24 last year. According to the ECICO, the period between that date and the polling day (December 7, 2025) was the “election period” for the election.
The defendant admitted that during the election period of the 2025 LegCo Election, he had reposted a post on his social media page that incited another person not to vote at the election, reacted to the post with a “like” and further made a relevant comment. The post the defendant reposted was published by Keung Ka-wai. A warrant for Keung’s arrest, who has since left Hong Kong, was earlier issued by a Magistrate upon the ICAC’s application.
The ICAC charged another defendant in a separate case, with one count of engaging in illegal conduct to incite another person to cast invalid vote by activity in public during election period, contrary to section 27A(1)(b) of the ECICO. Lam Ramirez Kuk-wai, 38, a security guard, is suspected of leaving a comment on a post on a media outlet’s social media page that incited others to cast blank votes at the 2025 LegCo Election during the election period. No plea was entered when he appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today. His case was adjourned to May 27 for mention.
An ICAC spokesperson notes that publicly inciting others not to vote or to cast invalid votes during the election period constitutes a violation of the law. The Commission takes resolute enforcement actions to ensure that Hong Kong’s public elections are conducted fairly, openly and honestly without any interference, and does not tolerate anyone sabotaging or interfering with the elections. The sentencing in the present case has reflected the seriousness of the offence. The ICAC urges members of the public not to breach the law by engaging in illegal conducts.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Francis Tsang.
Wong Wah-kwong, 63, security guard, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in illegal conduct to incite another person not to vote by activity in public during election period, contrary to section 27A(1)(a) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO).
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Amy Chan Wai-mun remarked that the Government spent substantial financial resources and human effort in organising the LegCo Election to elect capable individuals to advance Hong Kong’s social development through a sound electoral process. No one was allowed to interfere with the election.
The magistrate added that the circumstances of the present case was extremely serious, as the defendant reposted a social media post to incite others not to vote in the election while deliberately leaving a comment with ulterior motives. Given the widespread dissemination of the post, the risk of undermining the electoral system could not be disregarded, warranting an immediate deterrent custodial sentence. The court took a starting point of three months’ imprisonment for sentencing and reduced the jail term by one-third to two months in view of the guilty plea.
The court heard that nominations for the 2025 LegCo Election opened from October 24 last year. According to the ECICO, the period between that date and the polling day (December 7, 2025) was the “election period” for the election.
The defendant admitted that during the election period of the 2025 LegCo Election, he had reposted a post on his social media page that incited another person not to vote at the election, reacted to the post with a “like” and further made a relevant comment. The post the defendant reposted was published by Keung Ka-wai. A warrant for Keung’s arrest, who has since left Hong Kong, was earlier issued by a Magistrate upon the ICAC’s application.
The ICAC charged another defendant in a separate case, with one count of engaging in illegal conduct to incite another person to cast invalid vote by activity in public during election period, contrary to section 27A(1)(b) of the ECICO. Lam Ramirez Kuk-wai, 38, a security guard, is suspected of leaving a comment on a post on a media outlet’s social media page that incited others to cast blank votes at the 2025 LegCo Election during the election period. No plea was entered when he appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today. His case was adjourned to May 27 for mention.
An ICAC spokesperson notes that publicly inciting others not to vote or to cast invalid votes during the election period constitutes a violation of the law. The Commission takes resolute enforcement actions to ensure that Hong Kong’s public elections are conducted fairly, openly and honestly without any interference, and does not tolerate anyone sabotaging or interfering with the elections. The sentencing in the present case has reflected the seriousness of the offence. The ICAC urges members of the public not to breach the law by engaging in illegal conducts.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Francis Tsang.