Occupy leaders arrive at Hong Kong police headquarters to face arrest over 2014 protests
Now inside the station, they are expected to face a public nuisance charge under common law, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years
PUBLISHED : Monday, 27 March, 2017, 7:33pm
UPDATED : Monday, 27 March, 2017, 8:28pm
Police on Monday called the leaders of Hong Kong’s 2014 pro-democracy Occupy protests, and six other politicians and activists, to tell them they will be prosecuted – only a day after Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor won a divisive chief executive election.
A police source said the nine individuals – eight men and a woman – would be arrested and charged in connection with public nuisance upon reporting to police. The offence carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.
The Post is covering the arrival of nine pro-democracy activists at Hong Kong police headquarters following revelations today they would be arrested for their roles in the Occupy protests of 2014.
7.40pm – Chants for universal suffrage
As the nine walk into the station, their supporters shout: “We want universal suffrage! We’re not afraid of anything!”
Civic Party lawmaker Tanya Chan, one of the nine, slams Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying for dividing the city. She urges people to unify.
7.37pm – No fear from former student leader
Former student leader at the Occupy protests, Tommy Cheung Sau-yin, said he did not fear prosecution.
“As a participant of the civil disobedience campaign, we have been prepared for this,” he said, addressing supporters outside the station.
7.34pm – ‘Political persecution’
Standing outside the station, Chan Kin-man said the “political persecution” could not undermine “a determination to seek universal suffrage”.
“Even if I have to be kept behind bars at the end of the day, I would see it as my honour.”
He continued: “This kind of political persecution will not destroy our determination to strive for democracy. Even if I am jailed, I will be proud that I have joined the umbrella movement”.
Chan claimed he was told he would be charged with incitement. He said no one deserves such a charge more than Leung after rounds of tear gas were fired upon protesters during the Occupy movement.
7.31pm – Long journey to come
Occupy co-founder Benny Tai Yiu-ting said a long journey of court proceedings would ensue following tonight.
But he urged people not to give up on the spirit, love and peace the movement preached in pursuit of democracy, claiming such an approach could gain additional support from more people.
7.28pm – Ready
Outside the police station, Democrat Lee Wing-tat said he had been prepared to get arrested and even imprisoned when he took part in the Occupy protests in 2014.
“What is ironic is that it comes just one day after we have elected a new chief executive who boasted about healing the social divide and uniting society.”
“Healing social divide cannot be achieved by arresting people,” the former lawmaker added. “It will unite us more to fight with the government.”
7.26pm – Justice speaks
Dismissing claims that the prosecution was brought by Lam, a spokesman from the Department of Justice said the matter should not be politicised or viewed through a political lens.
“The department stresses that such surmising is completely baseless and utterly untrue,” he said. “When handling prosecution work, the department does not give prior notice to the executive branch, nor did [it] give prior warning to the chief executive-elect, Mrs Carrie Lam, as suggested by certain rumours.”
“As in other criminal cases, the department generally endeavours to handle cases as soon as possible.”
7.15pm – Support for the nine arrives
Members of at least four political parties – Democratic Party, Labour Party, Civic Party, Demosisto and the radical People Power group – have gathered outside the Wan Chai police station in support of the Occupy Central leaders and activists that are set to be arrested and charged later tonight.
Dozens are holding yellow umbrellas – a symbol of the 2014 pro-democracy protests – and holding placards that read “we stand united” and “civil disobedience: don’t forget why we started”.
Background
Nine key protesters from Hong Kong’s 2014 pro-democracy Occupy protests have arrived at the Wan Chai Police headquarters to face arrest and charges dating three years ago, just hours after unexpected phone calls from the force this morning.
Those who emerged at the station included the three founders of the unprecedented 79-day sit-in: Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, and university scholars Benny Tai Yiu-ting and Chan Kin-man.
Lawmakers Tanya Chan and Shiu Ka-chun were also among the group, as well as Tommy Cheung Sau-yin and Eason Chung Yiu-wah, two former student leaders of the Hong Kong Federation of Students.
The other two were League of Social Democrats vice-chairman Raphael Wong Ho-ming and former Legislative Council member Lee Wing-tat.
They are expected to face a public nuisance charge under common law, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years.
The sudden turn of events came just one day after Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor won the city’s leadership election.
When meeting with outgoing chief executive Leung Chun-ying shortly before the news came to light, she said Leung “responded positively” to her election pledge to unify a divided city.
She said she had not been aware of the planned prosecution.
This has prompted some of those targeted to call Leung’s move a “poisoned chalice” for the chief executive-elect, deliberately left by Leung. Another said he thought the calls had been delayed until after the poll to protect Lam’s campaign.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2082480/occupy-leaders-arrive-hong-kong-police-headquarters-face
