Hong Kong man arrested after paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

HONG KONG — Hong Kong police said on Tuesday they had arrested a man suspected of sedition who paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II near the British consulate in the city.

Police said the 43-year-old was detained late Monday near the consulate, where dozens of people gathered to honor the late monarch. Elizabeth, a British colony before handing over to Chinese rule in 1997, is the sovereign of the city.

Local media reported that the detained men stood outside the consulate and played songs on the harmonica, including “Glory to Hong Kong,” the national anthem that rocked Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests in 2019. Videos shared on social media showed the crowd singing along to the man playing.

Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of “act with seditious intent”, a law introduced during the colonial era. They did not provide further details.

In recent days, thousands of Hong Kong residents have lined up in front of the British consulate to lay flowers to the Queen, affectionately known as “the lady boss” by many Hong Kongers who still remember colonial rule.

Before the arrest, Hong Kong authorities allowed this orderly, somber mood to continue.