- Title: Hong Kong residents say arrest of democracy activists a political move
- Date: 30th August 2019
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (AUGUST 30, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE VEHICLES ENTERING HONG KONG POLICE HEADQUARTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) 23-YEAR-OLD RECENT GRADUATE, JUNE CHENG, SAYING: "Well I am convinced that when police arrest Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow, it is because they are trying to attack the commitment (to democracy) of us Hong Kong people. The Civil Human Rights Front has announced a march for tomorrow August 31st, but the police have blocked their march by not granting permission for assembly. And I also think that the chance of appeal is very low." CARS MOVING IN FRONT OF HONG KONG POLICE HEADQUARTERS SIGN READING (English and Chinese) "HONG KONG POLICE HEADQUARTERS" PEDESTRIANS WALKING IN FRONT STREET BARRIERS AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS POLICE CROSSING STREET IN FRONT OF HEADQUARTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) 23-YEAR-OLD STUDENT, MACY TAI, SAYING: "I think they arrest Joshua Wong perhaps because they want to make use of political powers to influence the movement of the last three months, but in fact it will just make the political movement keep on brewing." VARIOUS OF PEDESTRIANS WALKING THROUGH SECURITY BARRIERS IN FRONT OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS EMBLEM READING (English and Chinese) "HONG KONG POLICE"
- Embargoed: 13th September 2019 05:35
- Keywords: Hong Kong China protests Joshua Wong Agnes Chow Andy Chan activist arrest
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001AUERDQF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hong Kong residents said on Friday (August 30) authorities' arrest of democracy activists Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow was a "political" move that could further invigorate protesters in the coming days.
Police said Wong and Chow, both 22, were arrested on Friday on suspicion of "organizing unorganized assembly" and "knowingly participating in unauthorized assembly."
According to Wong's political party, Demosisto, Wong was "pushed into a private car on the street" and then escorted to police headquarters in Wan Chai. They did not provide specific details on Chow's arrest.
Wong, the icon of pro-democracy demonstrations five years ago that foreshadowed the latest turbulence, is the highest-profile arrest since protests escalated in mid-June over fears Beijing was exerting greater control over the city.
Andy Chan, a founder of the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party that was banned last September, said on his Facebook page late on Thursday (August 29) he had been detained at Hong Kong's international airport and that he had been told he was about to be arrested.
(Production: Ebrahim Harris, Aleksander Solum) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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