The chairman of a pro-Beijing group popped champagne outside the police headquarters Wednesday to celebrate the arrest of pan-democrat lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting over last year’s July 21 attacks.
Holding a bottle of bubbly and fist-pumping, Innes Tang chanted “justice is served” and “support lawmaker Junius Ho,” as seen in live videos on the Facebook page of Politihk Social Strategic, the pro-Beijing, pro-police organization he leads.
He also had with him a takeout box of braised pigeon, likely a reference to the Democratic Party which features a dove in its logo.
Tang is a right-hand man of sorts to firebrand politician Ho, who was captured shaking hands with white-shirted attackers last year and calling them “heroes.” He has appeared alongside Ho at pro-police rallies and most recently at a banquet to celebrate the passing of the national security law.
Two weeks ago, he was filmed in a viral video throwing away stacks of Apple Daily newspaper after the founder of the media outlet, Jimmy Lai, was arrested.
Read more: Junius Ho got chummy with Yuen Long assailants, calls their values ‘heroic’ in presser
His celebration today was a reaction to a fresh round of protest-related arrests this morning—Lam was apprehended at around 6am, and his home searched, as police informed him that he faces a suspected riot charge linked to the the July 21 incident last year.
“These two people,” Tang said, referring to Lam and lawmaker Ted Hui, who was arrested for a separate protest, “have done a lot of bad things, and have finally been punished. We thank police for strictly enforcing the law and bringing the rioters to justice.”
On the night of July 21 last year, dozens of middle-aged men with wooden sticks indiscriminately attacked passerbys in Yuen Long station, barging onto the train and beating commuters and protestors bloody as they cowered in defense.
Police only arrived almost 40 minutes after receiving reports, and did not carry out any on-site arrests.
Lam, who went to the station after learning that a group of suspected triad members had gathered, was also assaulted, sustaining a severe wound to his lip that required 18 stitches.
The lawmaker has been at the center of smear campaigns by pro-government groups, as well as Ho, who have accused him of orchestrating the attacks.
As of yesterday, when police carried out six more arrests, a total of 43 people have been detained in connection with the violent incident.
