Hong Kong police arrest 8 democracy activists over July protest

The Hong Kong Police Force said they have arrested eight men in an early morning sweep on Tuesday, on charges related to pro-democracy protests held on July 1.

Ex-lawmaker Eddie Chu Hoi-Hick, veteran ex-legislator Leung Kwok hung known as Long Hair, former chair of the Democratic Party Wu Chi-Wai and co-convener of Civil Human Rights Front Figo Chan said on Facebook that they were among those arrested at around 6:30 am on Tuesday (2230 GMT Monday).

According to a police statement the men were charged with incitement to knowingly taken part in unauthorised assembly, holding or organising an unauthorised assembly and knowingly taking part in an unauthorised assembly.

Chan live streamed his arrest on Facebook, showing an officer accuse him of inciting others to knowingly participate in an unauthorised assembly. He has also been charged with organising and participating in the protest.

In Hong Kong thousands took to the streets on July 1 to participate in demonstrations marking day one of the controversial new national security law coming into effect.

Police had banned the march and almost 400 were arrested on the day.

A popular annual march is held on that day, the 23rd anniversary of the ex-colony’s handover back to China. This was the first year it was banned in 17 years.

Earlier, high-profile activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to just over a year in prison on similar charges.

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Fellow activists Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam were handed down sentences of 10 months and 7 months, respectively.