The force said on Saturday that initial investigations showed the woman, 28, allegedly forged the professor’s suicide note, while the man, 41, was found to have placed light boxes at various places.
The pair were apprehended for allegedly acting with seditious intent and contravening Section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, according to police.
“Police searched the residences of those arrested with a court warrant. Lightboxes, materials for making light boxes and relevant electronic communication devices were seized. The arrested people are now being held for investigation,” national security police said.
“The arrested woman is suspected of publishing fraudulent ‘last words’ of the deceased in relation to a recent suicide case, while the man was suspected of persistently placing so-called memorial light boxes in various places, with content provoking hatred towards the central authorities and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,” it added.
A source familiar with the investigation said the arrested man had no full-time job.
After reading the professor’s forged suicide note online, the man rode his motorcycle to areas near the university campus and placed light boxes with messages inciting hatred, the insider said.
The source added that the woman posted screenshots of the note on some social media platforms, including the Reddit-like LIHKG.
The two arrestees did not know each other, according to the source.
Police said they had not ruled out further arrests as more inspections were set for Saturday afternoon.
The maximum penalty for the offence is seven years in jail under the ordinance, which was enacted under Article 23 of the Basic Law.
A CityU spokesman urged the public not to believe rumours circulating online.
“The university is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Professor Li Hin-wa and asks that the privacy of Professor Li’s family be respected as they handle their affairs,” he said.
He also noted the matter was being handled by police and that the university would fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
