The Police Force’s National Security Department (NSD) said today that the public should not download a mobile app named “Reversed Front: Bonfire” or provide funding to its developer as the app promotes acts and activities endangering national security.

It added that those who have downloaded the app should uninstall it immediately.

In a press statement, the NSD said “Reversed Front: Bonfire” was released under the guise of a game promoting secessionist agendas such as “Taiwan independence” and “Hong Kong independence”, and which advocates armed revolution and the overthrow of the fundamental system of the People’s Republic of China.

It is also designed to provoke hatred towards the central authorities and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the NSD added.

The department stressed that persons or organisations who knowingly publish the app or content relating to it, which includes sharing or recommending the app to others online, may commit offences of “incitement to secession” and “incitement to subversion” under the Hong Kong National Security Law, or “offences in connection with seditious intention” under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

Moreover, those who have downloaded the app may be regarded as being in possession of a publication that has a seditious intention.

Under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, a person who, without reasonable excuse, possesses a publication that has a seditious intention, commits an offence.

A person who provides pecuniary assistance, or property, to the developer, which includes making payment through in-app purchases, with an intent to fund the commission of secession or subversion, also commits an offence.

With approval from the Secretary for Security, the NSD has implemented a disabling action on electronic messages relating to “Reversed Front: Bonfire” in accordance with the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Hong Kong National Security Law.

The NSD emphasised that acts or activities endangering national security are extremely serious offences. It added that the force will ensure that the law is observed and strictly enforced, and will take resolute actions to bring offenders to account.