Seven pro-democracy activists who allegedly took part in a protest against Beijing’s interpretation of the Basic Law outside the Liaison Office last November were arrested in the early hours of today.
Pro-democracy parties Demosisto and the League of Social Democrats (LSD) confirmed the arrests on social media. They said activists including Ivan Lam and Derek Lam of Demosisto, LSD’s Chan Man-wai and Dickson Chau, and Student Fight for Democracy’s Lo Tak-cheong, were being sought by police for offences including unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct in a public place, and possession of offensive weapons.
According to both parties, police raided the activists’ flats at 6am, searched the premises, then arrested them.
Chan, Chau and Student Fight for Democracy leader Sammy Ip were not home when police searched their flats. They are due to report to police at Wan Chai’s Police Headquarters at 2pm today. More arrests are expected to be made, Apple Daily reports. Police told HKFP and Apple Daily that a total of seven suspects were arrested.
Protesters and police clash on the streets outside the China Liaison Office on Nov. 6, 2016. Photo: Tyrone Siu, Reuters
LSD, Demosisto, the Labour Party, and Student Fight for Democracy all took to the streets on Nov. 6 to voice their opposition against the interpretation of the Basic Law by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee which later resulted in the disqualification of two lawmakers Yau Wai-ching and Baggio Leung. The protest turned violent with pepper spray seen being used as police officers clashed with the demonstrating crowd. LSD chairman Avery Ng was among several protesters who were arrested immediately after the chaos.
Secretary general of Demosisto Joshua Wong believed the arrests were made in an attempt to create public pressure following the attack on the party’s lawmaker Nathan Law by pro-Beijing protesters at the airport on Sunday. “I hope the public can distinguish between civil disobedience – protesters who insist on non-violence principles – and ‘blue ribbon’ thugs who beat up lawmakers,” he told HKFP.
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