The Hong Kong police has arrested three lawmakers and several activists, just ahead of a proposed mass demonstration on Saturday that is now banned due to "public safety" concerns.
Lawmakers Cheng Chung-tai, Jeremy Tam and Au Nok-hin were detained on Friday evening. Tam and Au were arrested for "obstructing a police officer."
Also among the detainees are young activists Joshua Wong Chi-fung and Agnes Chow Ting. Both were taken to court after detainment, and have been granted bail.
On Friday, police said that Wong was arrested on suspicion of inciting others to participate in unauthorized gatherings, organizing unauthorized rallies, and knowingly engaging in illegal assemblies.
Twenty-two-year-old Wong was arrested en route to a subway station at about 7:30 a.m. local time and escorted to the police headquarters in Wan Chai.
Chow was arrested at her home on Friday following Wong's arrest. Police said Chow was detained on suspicion of inciting others to participate in unauthorized gatherings and knowingly engaging in unlawful assemblies.
Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow Ting attends a news conference in Tokyo, Japan, June 10, 2019. /Reuters Photo
The arrest of Wong and Chow came after another Hong Kong activist, Andy Chan Ho-tin, was arrested Thursday night.
Chan said on social media that he was detained at Hong Kong International Airport while trying to board a flight to Japan.
Hong Kong activist Andy Chan Ho-tin. /File Photo via Reuters
Chan was the leader of Hong Kong National Party, a political group that has been declared illegal by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.
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