Secretary for Security Chris Tang on Tuesday criticised an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal on last week's seizure of an item linked to a national security case by the authorities, saying it contains "groundless remarks" that mislead readers.

National security police on Friday took away an exhibit in Yuen Long related to a case of incitement to subversion, believed to be a sculpture known as the "Pillar of Shame" which had been in storage after being removed from the campus of the University of Hong Kong in 2021.

In a letter to the newspaper, Tang said comments that the enforcement action was “quietly executed” and “without due process” were untrue, noting that officers took action with a court warrant on Friday and a press release on the operation was issued on the same day.

"We must also point out that investigation has been on-going for the case concerned. Like any other case, to collect evidence following progress of investigation to take forward the case is legal, reasonable and rational. That the opinion piece presented the exhibit of the criminal investigation as an 'artwork' and the case as one concerning mere 'dissent' is totally misleading," the letter reads.

The Wall Street Journal piece is titled “‘Subversive’ Art Is a Crime in Hong Kong”.