Hong Kong police file fresh terrorism charge against pair over alleged bomb plot

Hong Kong Police have charged two men with a fresh terrorism offence under the national security law over an alleged bomb plot dating back three years.Prosecutors on Monday applied to the Eastern Court to amend the charges against Ng Tsz-kit, 36, and Ho Chi-hang, 35, ahead of the case being transferred to the High Court for trial.The pair now face a conspiracy charge of committing terrorist acts for allegedly attempting to coerce central and local authorities or to intimidate the public through serious violence, explosions or other dangerous activities, with the aim of pursuing a political agenda between April 2022 and December 2023.The charge carries a mandatory prison sentence of up to life imprisonment under the national security law imposed by Beijing in June 2020.The pair allegedly possessed chemicals that could be used to produce explosives, including ammonium nitrate, hydrogen peroxide, acetone and sulphuric acid. Photo: Jelly TseThe defendants also face one count of conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life or property and and three counts of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or property under the Crimes Ordinance.