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‘Arrests of Hong Kong activists deeply concerning’, says Mike Pompeo

The arrests of the 15 were for their roles in the protests in August and October that were part of an anti-government movement that was sparked by the aborted extradition bill.

‘Arrests of Hong Kong activists deeply concerning’, says Mike Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Photo: AFP)

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday criticized the arrests of several high-profile democracy campaigners in Hong Kong and said that they were “deeply concerning.”

Taking to Twitter, Pompeo said, “Arrests of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong are deeply concerning — politicized law enforcement is inconsistent with universal values of freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly”.

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On Saturday, Hong Kong police rounded up at least 15 veterans and supporters of the opposition camp in a swoop that netted, among others, media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and prominent barrister Martin Lee Chu-ming for their roles in unlawful protests late last year.

The arrests of the 15 were for their roles in the protests in August and October that were part of an anti-government movement that was sparked by the aborted extradition bill.

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part in an unauthorised assembly on August 31, 2019 as part of the months-long protest movement sparked by the now-withdrawn extradition bill.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between anti-government protesters and police, sparked by a piece of extradition legislation which officials have since withdrawn.

During a press briefing after the first 14 arrests, Superintendent Lam Wing-ho of Hong Kong Island regional crime squad said those held were involved in organising and participating in unauthorised marches on August 18, October 1 or October 20.
The authorities accused them of blocking and disrupting legislative proceedings, as analysts pointed out it was very rare for all three to deliver such a sustained criticism on local politics, let alone in the span of a few days.

The pro-establishment camp insisted there was nothing to suggest that the police action was political.

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