Hong Kong police arrested an activist from pro-democracy group Demosisto late on Thursday as she was about to leave for a trip to Taiwan.
Lily Wong, 26, was arrested for “conspiracy to commit criminal damage” and “entering or remaining in precincts of [the] Chamber” under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, according to a Facebook post by Demosisto.
Wong was arrested at the airport on her way to Taiwan, where she planned to observe this weekend’s presidential election. Quoting a lawyer working on her case, Demosisto said that she had been put on a wanted list by police without her knowledge.
“Demosisto urges all people involved in action to beware of police ‘surprise arrests’ at immigration checkpoints,” the group wrote.
Police confirmed that Wong was arrested over the storming of the legislature on July 1. She was released on bail in the early hours of Friday.
The incident marked an escalation in the anti-extradition bill protest movement, which has entered its seventh month.
At least six people have been arrested over the break-in, which saw hundreds of masked protesters enter the Legislative Council Complex in Admiralty and vandalise its halls.
Police made the first arrests last August, with those arrested including activist Ventus Lau, actor Gregory Wong, former student leader Anthea Suen and Ma Kai-chung, a reporter and show host for Passion Times.
Before mass protests broke out in June, Wong was also involved in earlier protests against the bill, which would have allowed the transfer of fugitives from Hong Kong to China. She was among the nine activists arrested in March over a sit-in protest at the lobby of the government’s headquarters.
Hong Kong Free Press relies on direct reader support. Help safeguard independent journalism and press freedom as we invest more in freelancers, overtime, safety gear & insurance during this summer’s protests. 10 ways to support us.
