Four former members of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) – the city’s largest pro-democracy labour group before it disbanded in 2021 – were taken by national security police to assist an investigation on Wednesday morning.
Leo Tang, the former vice-chairperson of the HKCTU, confirmed with HKFP on Wednesday afternoon that he and three other ex-members were taken away by the police that morning.
He said it was not an arrest and he could not give further details due to confidentiality terms under the national security law.
Local media reported that national security police also took HKCTU’s ex-chairperson Joe Wong, and former committee members Denny To, and Shek Pui-yin from their homes at around 7 a.m.
The police reportedly took their phones and computers, and the four were released at around 11 a.m.
HKFP has reached out to the police for comment.
Then HKCTU chairperson Wong cited threats to members’ physical safety when announcing the confederation’s decision to disband in September 2021.
Earlier this month, former chief executive of the union coalition Elizabeth Tang was arrested on suspicion of foreign collusion after visiting her husband – detained former lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan – in jail.
Elizabeth Tang was released on bail on the condition that she had to handover all travel documents.
Two days after her arrest, the police also apprehended her sister Marilyn Tang and lawyer Frederick Ho for allegedly removing evidence from the home of Elizabeth Tang.
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