HONG KONG - Hong Kong police arrested a handful of democracy activists including Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow on Friday, while the territory braces for another weekend of anti-government protests.
Wong, who founded youth political group Demosisto, and Chow were both taken to court for prosecution hours after they were detained in what they alleged was an effort by Beijing to induce fear among Hong Kong people taking part in the weeks-long protests against a China extradition bill.
"We are strongly aware of how (Chinese) President Xi Jinping and the Beijing government are the ones who back and endorse Hong Kong police to conduct such a mass arrest and prosecution," Wong told reporters outside the Eastern Magistrate Court after he and Chow were released on bail.
"All we ask for is just to urge Beijing and the Hong Kong government to withdraw the bill, stop police brutality and respond to our calls for free elections. We will continue our fight, no matter how they arrest and prosecute us," he said.
Both Wong and Chow were arrested for allegedly inciting and participating in an unauthorized assembly on June 21 outside Hong Kong's police headquarters, according to the police.
(Joshua Wong)
[Getty/Kyodo]
BREAKING: Our secretary-general @joshuawongcf was just arrested this morning at roughly 7:30, when he was walking to the South Horizons MTR station. He was forcefully pushed into a private minivan on the street in broad daylight. Our lawyers following the case now.
— Demosistō 香港眾志 (@demosisto) August 30, 2019
(Hong Kong pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong, far left, and Agnes Chow, far right, pictured at protests on June 21, 2019)
Wong also stands accused of organizing the illegal assembly, in which thousands of protesters surrounded the headquarters to demand the complete withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill.
"We can see very clearly that the (Communist) regime and Hong Kong government are trying to scare Hong Kong people to not participate in the social movement and democratic movement in the future," Chow said.
The group's chairman, Ivan Lam, was also said to be on the arrest list along with Wong and Chow, but he reportedly left Hong Kong in recent days.
Wong was one of the student leaders of the 2014 Umbrella Movement that called for democratic change in the former British colony.
He was later convicted of contempt of court over his involvement in the movement and released from prison in mid-June after serving weeks in prison.
Other people also arrested Friday included lawmaker Cheng Chung-tai of radical group Civic Passion, Sha Tin district councilor Rick Hui and former university student union chairwoman Althea Suen, who were allegedly involved in previous protests.
Andy Chan, founder of the now-defunct pro-independence group Hong Kong National Party, was arrested late Thursday for allegedly taking part in a riot and assaulting a police officer, police confirmed Friday.
Chan said on Facebook that he was about to leave Hong Kong from its international airport when police intercepted him. He was among eight people arrested earlier this month on allegations of possessing weapons and explosives, but was later released without being charged.
Police spokesman Tse Chun-chung said the arrests were made following thorough investigation and evidence gathering and were not meant to coincide with any demonstration.
Meanwhile, the police have prohibited a march that was planned for Saturday on Hong Kong Island, citing risks to public safety, and gave an advance warning against illegal activities on streets.
Jimmy Sham, convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, said Friday after the ban was upheld on appeal that the organizer, which was behind peaceful million-strong marches in recent months, will reschedule the march for a later date.
"We tried all legal means but still failed to seek approval," Sham said. "We apologize to the public for having to reluctantly cancel (Saturday's) march."
He also added that "all legal ways for the public to express discontent" over the bill and the city's governance are "blocked."
Bloggers on Friday expressed their intent to go ahead with Saturday's demonstration even without the organizer's involvement. It will be the 13th consecutive weekend of anti-government protests.
Separately, high school and university students in Hong Kong are planning to hold strikes from next week as a new school year begins in the territory. A territory-wide labor strike is being scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
Others are calling for efforts to block access to the international airport starting Sunday. Protests at the airport earlier this month caused two days of disruptions.
Millions of protesters have taken to the streets since June demanding a withdrawal of the controversial bill that would allow fugitive transfer to mainland China.
Amid popular opposition, Lam indefinitely suspended work on it in the territory's legislature. But her decision to suspend the bill, rather than fully withdraw it, has failed to stop the protests, which have, in some cases, ended in violent clashes with police.
Protesters' demands have grown to include an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality against protesters, pardons for arrested protesters and democratic reforms.
Tam Man-kei, director of Amnesty International Hong Kong, called the arrests of Wong and Chow "ludicrous."
"This past week, we have seen scare tactics straight out of Beijing's playbook. The authorities must end this concerted attack on the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. It is vital that the authorities send a clear message that people in Hong Kong can still enjoy these rights irrespective of their political beliefs," Tam said in a statement.
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