Retaliatory Strike Against Protests: Hong Kong Police Arrest Prominent Democratic Figures

(Patria) – Hong Kong police have arrested three well-known democratic figures for participating in anti-government protests that marked the biggest political crisis in this Chinese autonomous region in several decades.

Thus, on Friday morning, Jimmy Lai (71), founder of the media company Next Media, which publishes the anti-government newspaper Apple Daily, was arrested for participating on August 31 in a march that had previously been banned by the police.

Lai, a media tycoon who openly criticized the Chinese government and financed the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, was arrested in the early morning hours at his home.

At the same time and for the same reason, Lee Cheuk-yan (63), vice-chairman of the Labour Party, which has repeatedly condemned the prevention of Hong Kong citizens from holding peaceful protests, was also arrested.

Both were released on bail shortly afterward.

Lai refused to speak to reporters, while Lee accused the government of political persecution: 'The government wants to take revenge and settle scores (with us) – they are using intimidation,' he said.

The third arrested person is Yeung Sum (70), former chairman of the Democratic Party.

A Hong Kong police spokesman confirmed the arrest of three men, stating that they participated in an unauthorized assembly on August 31 last year and that they will be tried in May. It was also said that Lai was charged with intimidation on June 4, 2017, when he allegedly directed curses at a journalist from the pro-Chinese newspaper Oriental Daily.

So far, Hong Kong authorities have arrested more than 7,000 people in connection with the protests, and many have been sentenced for rioting, which carries prison terms of 10 years each. Many are still in custody.

Hong Kong citizens remain angry at the Chinese authorities over political pressure on the city, while official Beijing points the finger at the West, which it blames for interference and creating unrest.

A few days ago, Gui Minhai, owner of a bookshop in Hong Kong, was sentenced to ten years in prison. Minhai's publishing house is behind several titles about Chinese political leaders. This Swedish citizen was arrested in February 2018 on a train heading to Beijing, and a few days ago he was convicted of illegal intelligence activity for other countries.