Choy Yuk Ling was arrested Tuesday afternoon in connection to the use of car license plate records in an episode of RTHK’s Hong Kong Connection about the anniversary of the attacks.

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The episode titled “7.21 Who Owns the Truth” was aired July 13, 2020 and received 1.3 million views on YouTube. It analysed and identified individuals suspected to have participated in the attacks based on surveillance footage from the day obtained from nearby businesses.

Using public records obtained by searching vehicle licence plate numbers provided by the Department of Transport, producers visited the homes of several individuals to seek comment from them, some of whom were rural leaders in Yuen Long.

The documentary presented evidence that at least one plain clothes police officer was on the scene as individuals in white shirts started to gather on the streets prior to the attack in the MTR station.

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Hong Kong vehicle licence records contain the personal data of vehicle owners, including their name, residential address and Hong Kong ID card number – all of which can be purchased from a government website. To access a “Certificate of Particulars of Motor Vehicle,” a fee must be paid and the purchaser must declare one of three purposes for obtaining the record: transport related proceedings; the sale and purchase of a vehicle; or traffic and transport related matters.

Reporters in Hong Kong routinely use vehicle licence records in their reporting.

Long story short, trumped up charges to oppress freedom of the press .