7 pro-democracy opposition politicians arrested in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, seven pro-democracy opposition politicians, including four sitting lawmakers, were arrested today over charges related to a scuffle that broke out in its legislative council in May this year. Hong Kong Police have confirmed the arrests at a press briefing and said they were arrested on charges of 'contempt' and 'interfering' with members of the city's Legislative Council on 8th May. 

According to local media reports, authorities made a series of early morning arrests of politicians from the Democratic Party, the Labour Party, and the pan-democratic camp. Police said the seven were charged under a law governing conduct in the chamber, an offense that carries up to 12 months in prison. 

The seven



were later released on bail and are expected to be produced in court on Thursday. Those arrested were among a group of pro-democracy legislators who tried to storm the chairperson's seat in the Legislative Council after pro-Beijing councillors forcibly installed one of their politicians as the committee leader following months of deadlock. 

 

The Democratic Party described the arrests as arbitrary. The bloc of pan-democratic lawmakers condemned the actions in a statement, saying the arrests suppress the rights of legislators to dissent. As per media reports, Hong Kong Police declined to comment on a question of arrests of only pro-democracy politicians and not any pro-Beijing politician.