Police arrest nine over illegal rally

Hong Kong police on Thursday arrested nine people who allegedly participated in an unlawful protest outside the central government’s Liaison Office in November last year.

The nine, facing various charges including unlawful assembly and assaults on police, were released before noon on cash bail of HK$1,000 ($129) each. They are required to appear at the Eastern Magistrates’ Court on May 5.

Avery Ng Man-yuen and Dickson Chau Ka-faat from the activist group League of Social Democrats, as well as Derek Lam Shunhin and Ivan Lam Long-yin from the localist group Demosisto, are among the nine arrested.

On Nov 6 last year pro-independence protesters occupied roads near the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in an illegal protest against a proposed interpretation of the Basic Law by the nation’s top legislature — the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.

The unlawful protest turned into a riot after radical protesters clashed with police officers, using bricks, glass bottles, umbrellas and bamboo rods.

Both Ng and Derek Lam were charged for inciting others to cause disorder in a public place — an offense that carries a penalty of HK$5,000 fine and maximum one-year imprisonment.

Ivan Lam faced one count of unlawful assembly which could bring a maximum of five-year jail term.

Chau was charged with assault on police officers and deliberately obstructing police in the execution of their lawful duties. Both carry a maximum two-year imprisonment term.

Lawmaker Gary Chan Hak-kan from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong dismissed the localists’ claim that their arrest was politically motivated.

He noted that the Department of Justice makes prosecutions based on facts and evidence. The time to prosecute was subject to the collection of evidence, he added.

Others arrested on Thursday were former Lingnan University student union chairman Devon Cheng Puilun, Chow Shu-wing, Chan Man-wai, Lo Tak-cheong and Sammy Ip Chi-hin.