The police prevented pro-democracy political party Demosistō’s attempt to block Zhang Dejiang’s motorcade as it travelled out of the Eastern Tunnel on Thursday. The incident occurred on the final day of the Chinese number 3 official’s state visit to Hong Kong.
Party members involved, including chairman Nathan Law, vice Chairman Oscar Lai, and secretary general Joshua Wong, were stopped as they ran out onto the road.
The party broadcast the incident live through chairman Nathan Law’s Facebook account.
Demosistō said that they wanted to express “Hong Kong people’s demands for self-determination and tear apart the false image of peace and prosperity that the police and government has made.”
According to Law’s Facebook post, as of 11:12 am, Law, Lai, and Wong and other protesters had been charged with disrupting peace and disturbing public order, as well as obstructing police officers. By 11:37 am, he added that more than ten police had been stationed outside the North Lantau Highway toll station.
On Tuesday, members of the party were also stopped by the police as they attempted to protest near Zhang’s motorcade, outside of the designated protest areas.
#HongKong police has applied for search warrant for searching into homes of our 5 arrested members.
— Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 😷 (@joshuawongcf) May 19, 2016
Lockdown
Protest banners popped up near Tseung Kwan O as Zhang was making his way to the district for a visit. Roads going through the area were closed for the occasion.
Signs which said “Tseung Kwan O residents happily welcome Zhang to block the main roads” were put up, but were quickly taken away by the police, according to Apple Daily.
Pro-Beijing protesters displayed ‘like’ banner towards Zhang on Anderson Road, which leads to Tseung Kwan O.
