Police arrested nine activists on Thursday – most were charged with public disorder and participating in an unlawful assembly. It follows a protest five months ago against an impending Basic Law interpretation by Beijing.
All of those charged have been released on bail. They include:
League of Social Democrats
- Avery Ng Man-yuen: inciting disorderly conduct in public places (two counts).
- Dickson Chau Ka-faat: obstructing police officer, assaulting police officer.
- Chan Man-wai: unlawful assembly (two counts).
Demosisto
- Derek Lam Shun-hin: inciting disorderly conduct in public places.
- Ivan Lam Long-yin: unlawful assembly.
Student Fight for Democracy group
- Sammy Ip: unlawful assembly, obstructing police officer.
- Lo Tak-cheong: unlawful assembly.
Former president of Lingnan University’s student union
- Cheng Pui-lun: unlawful assembly.
People Power
- Chow Shu-wing: unlawful assembly.
All will appear before the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts at 2:30pm next Friday.
“This shows that, in the short period of time before [Chief Executive] Leung Chun-ying steps down, he is conducting a major purge,” Derek Lam said. “This arrest is a pro-active move ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit on July 1.”
‘White terror’
Avery Ng said the government’s actions were very concerning and amounted to “white terror”.
“The tactics [are] becoming more and more similar to the political suppression tactics that the Communist Party has employed for many years,” he said.
Ng and Chow Shu-wing were previously arrested during the protest. The others were arrested in January.
Demosisto and the League of Social Democrats said they expected they would be charged with unlawful assembly and public disorder, among other possible charges.
On November 6 last year, Demosisto, the League of Social Democrats, the Labour Party and Student Fight for Democracy organised a protest outside the China Liaison Office after a march opposing the impending Basic Law interpretation by Beijing.
Hundreds attended the demonstration which surrounded the China Liaison Office in Sai Wan, filling nearby roads. Some threw water and water bottles at police, as the force used pepper spray to drive them back.
On Wednesday, former lawmakers Yau Wai-ching and Baggio Leung Chung-hang were charged for participating in an unlawful assembly, and an alternative charge of forced entry.
In late March, nine pro-democracy figures were charged with public nuisance for the 2014 pro-democracy Occupy protests.
