Police in Hong Kong on Saturday arrested at least 14 pro-democracy activists which were involved in last year’s mass protests.
Local media reported that among the arrested was media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a self-made multi-millionaire and a critic of Beijing.
Police said the group also included current and former lawmakers. They are accused of organising and taking part in unlawful assemblies in August and October. Several others were arrested on suspicion of publicising unauthorised public meetings in September and October.
In February, Lai was detained over his participation in another August rally that was banned by the police.
The pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, often followed by brutal crackdowns by security forces, began last year when people took to the streets to reject a bill that would have facilitated extradition to China.
The protests evolved into a wider movement calling for greater freedoms in what is the most concerted challenge to Beijing’s rule since the former British colony’s 1997 handover. However, Beijing has denied that it is tightening its grip over the city and has blamed the West for provoking unrest.
The protesters demand fully free elections in the city, an inquiry into alleged police misconduct during the protests and an amnesty for more than 7,000 people arrested during the movement — many of them under the age of 20.
Rights activists condemned the arrests: “It’s hard to know Beijing’s next precise move, but it seems Hong Kong officials will further enable abuses rather than defend Hong Kong people’s rights”, said Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch.
“This is not the rule of law. This is what authoritarian governments do”, said Chris Patten, Hong Kong’s last colonial governor before the 1997 handover.
“They are doing whatever they can do to try to silence, to take down the local opposition, but then united we stand”, said pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo.
In December, China’s President Xi Jinping expressed his “firm support” for the Hong Kong government, and praised chief executive Carrie Lam’s courage during the city’s “hard times”. He also expressed his support for the Hong Kong police in handling the protests.
All 15 activists are due to appear in court mid-May.
