Fifteen Leading Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Figures Arrested in Police Roundup

Police arrested fifteen high-profile pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong on Saturday and charged them with “organizing and participating in unlawful assemblies,” according to local Hong Kong reports. 

Those arrested include pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, former chairs of the Democratic Party Martin Lee and Albert Ho, Democratic Party members Yeung Sum, Au Nok-hin, Richard Tsoi, Kwai Tsing, members of the Labour Party Lee Cheuk-yan, Leung Yiu-chung and Cyd Ho.

Also arrested were District Council chair Sin Chung-Kai,  League of Social Democrats chair Raphael Wong, vice-chair Leung Kwok-hung, secretary-general Avery Ng and the Civil Human Rights Front’s vice-convener Figo Chan.

According to reports the arrests are related to pro-democracy demonstrations that happened on August 18th and October 1st, 2019.

Dozens of pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmakers met with members of the local and international media following a special meeting of the Legislative Council to elect new chair for the House Committee on Saturday.

“And now the Hong Kong government, led by Carrie Lam, has tried very hard to introduce a reign of terror in Hong Kong,” remarked independent Democrat Claudia Mo.

The pro-democracy Legislative Council member went on to voice her concern that the government of Hong Kong is doing whatever they can to silence the local opposition and that she is terrified of the chance that the CCP-backed opposition might become the legislative majority in the upcoming election in September.

While the Trump Administration has not yet commented on the arrests, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued a statement:

“The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to Hong Kong’s way of life and as such is protected in both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. It is essential that any protests are conducted peacefully, and that the authorities avoid actions that inflame tensions. The authorities should focus on rebuilding trust through a process of meaningful political dialogue.”

 

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