Democracy Dismantled
The sentencing of 45 pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong under its controversial National Security Law signifies a turning point in the former British colony’s political and legal history.
Police in Hong Kong arrested at least 14 veterans from the pan-democratic bloc on Saturday over the holding of unlawful protests last year, it was reported.
The arrests were made over organising unlawful assemblies on August 18, October 1 and October 20, 2019, the South China Morning Post newspaper said in a report citing political sources as saying.
Officers also showed up at the home of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, but the Apple Daily founder was not in at the time.
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Others arrested included former lawmakers Martin Lee Chu-ming, Albert Ho Chun-yan, Lee Cheuk-yan, “Long Hair” Leung Kwok- hung and Au Nok-hin, according to legal sources.
Also held were former lawmakers Yeung Sum, Sin Chung Kai, Cyd Ho Sau-lan, activists Raphael Wong Ho-ming, Figo-Chan Ho-wun and Avery Ng Man-yuen.
In February, Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan and Yeung Sum were charged for taking part in an unauthorised assembly on August 31, 2019 as part of the months-long protest movement sparked by the now-withdrawn extradition bill.
Since June 2019, Hong Kong has been gripped by often-violent clashes between anti-government protesters and police, sparked by a piece of extradition legislation which officials have since withdrawn.
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