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Emily Tsang

Teddy Ng

Nectar Gan

At least two Hong Kong lawmakers arrested along with prominent activists in connection with anti-government protests were released on bail on Saturday after being held overnight by police.
Speaking outside Tsuen Wan Police Station, Civic Party lawmaker Jeremy Tam Man-ho accused the force of detaining him on police obstruction allegations in a political move designed to deter protesters.
Another pro-democracy politician Au Nok-hin was also released on bail on Saturday afternoon. Neither has been charged.
The status of the third detained lawmaker Cheng Chung-tai is not known.
Tensions mount as activists, lawmakers arrested in crackdown ahead of banned march
Also arrested on Friday were young activists Joshua Wong Chi-fung and Agnes Chow Ting, who have since been charged and granted bail, and Andy Chan Ho-tin, convenor of the now-outlawed Hong Kong National Party.
The lawmakers and activists were arrested for their alleged criminal involvement in various protests since June, sparked by the now-shelved extradition bill.

Tam’s release came as protesters once again took over streets in Hong Kong Island.
He was released on bail from Tsuen Wan Police Station and appeared outside to accuse him of obstructing police officers in execution of their duties on June 7.
Tam believed police arrested him for political reasons, to scare Hongkongers from taking to the streets on Saturday.
“It has been almost two months,” he said outside the police station, referring to the passing of time since the alleged offence.
“That I was arrested yesterday shows the police are trying to intimidate people from taking to the streets.”
Cheng’s party Civil Passion said in a Facebook message posted on Saturday morning that he was still being detained, adding his office in Tsing Yi had been vandalised.
Day of defiance: Hong Kong police fire tear gas at protesters outside government headquarters
Police swooped again on Saturday to arrest two teenagers, a male and a female, aged 16 and 19, and a 30-year-old man on suspicion of possessing offensive weapons in Kwun Tong at 5.30am.
The force said they seized a 20cm knife, and other deadly weapons. The trio were being detained for investigation, a police spokesman said on Saturday afternoon.
He said officers became suspicious when patrolling Fu Tung Estate and Yau Tong Estate in Kwun Tong.
On Saturday morning, Hong Kong’s railway operator the MTR Corporation said it would close Sai Ying Pun station at 1.30pm until further notice “as a prudent measure” on Saturday afternoon.
Further measures were taken by rail bosses over the afternoon.
Sai Ying Pun Station, on the western Island line, is close to the central government’s liaison office, which was the planned destination of the banned Civil Human Rights Front march to mark the fifth anniversary of Beijing’s announcement of a restrictive electoral reform package, that was eventually rejected by Hong Kong.
The march and associated rally were cancelled by organisers following police objections, but protesters have defied the ban with flash protests taking place on Hong Kong Island.

Responding to the arrests, a commentary published on a social media account of Chinese state media said they were “good news” for Hong Kong.
Referring to Wong and Chow’s case, People’s Daily wrote on Saturday: “As to how the judge in Hong Kong will make the ruling, we expect that they can give an answer that is satisfactory to all Chinese.
“We can say that Hong Kong has entered a critical moment to stop the violence. We should examine all measures that can be used to stop violence.”
In a separate comment piece ahead of Saturday’s protests, the Communist Party mouthpiece also warned that Beijing had the power to quell any unrest that cannot be contained by the Hong Kong government.
“If someone thinks they are clever and believes that escalating violence will force the central government to make concessions on principle issues, they are just overrating their ability, like an ant trying to shake a tree,” it said.
“If there is turmoil in Hong Kong that cannot be controlled by the SAR [special administrative region] government, the central government will never sit idly by.”

Based on the Basic Law, which is Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the central government had sufficient powers to quickly quell all kinds of unrest that might occur, it said.
The commentary added that making compromise now would only incite more violence, and resolutely saying no to violence was the bottom line of the rule of law and the consensus of civilised society.
Another People’s Daily analysis published on Saturday described “radical groups” in Hong Kong as terrorist organisations.
“Such acts have exposed its terrorist nature, and should not be tolerated in any normal nation and region. They should be cracked down resolutely,” it said.


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Hong Kong protests

Two Hong Kong lawmakers arrested for protest-related offences released on bail after being held by police overnight

Protesters filled Victoria Park and beyond at an authorised rally on August 18, and it is expected demonstrators will take to the streets again on Saturday despite police bans. Photo: Sam Tsang

Anti-extradition bill protesters fill the Causeway Road as they attend a rally against police brutality and later march from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay towards Central. 18AUG19 SCMP / Edmond So

Lawmaker Au Nok-hin meet the media outside Sau Mau Ping Police Station. 31AUG19 SCMP/ Edmond So

In this June 18, 2019, photo, pro-democracy activists Agnes Chow, right, and Joshua Wong meet media outside government office in Hong Kong. Demosisto, a pro-democracy group in Hong Kong posted on its social media accounts that well-known activist Joshua Wong had been pushed into a private car around 7:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 30, 2019 and was taken to police headquarters. It later said another member, Agnes Chow, had been arrested as well. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

News

Hong Kong

Politics

Law and Crime


Status not known of third pro-democracy politician held following wave of arrests targeting several lawmakers and high-profile activists
Chinese state media calls Friday’s arrests ‘good news’ with Hong Kong in throes of 13th straight weekend of protests



Status not known of third pro-democracy politician held following wave of arrests targeting several lawmakers and high-profile activists.


Hong Kong extradition bill

Two Hong Kong lawmakers arrested for protest-related offences released on bail after being held by police overnight

Status not known of third pro-democracy politician held following wave of arrests targeting several lawmakers and high-profile activists Chinese state media calls Friday’s arrests ‘good news’ with Hong Kong in throes of 13th straight weekend of protests

Status not known of third pro-democracy politician held following wave of arrests targeting several lawmakers and high-profile activists

Chinese state media calls Friday’s arrests ‘good news’ with Hong Kong in throes of 13th straight weekend of protests