The leaders of the 2014 pro-democracy Occupy protests have received calls from the police saying that they will be charged with public nuisance. The crackdown comes a day after Hong Kong’s chief executive elections.
Tommy Cheung Sau-yin, a former core member of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS), confirmed to HKFP that he will be charged.
The three conveners of the protests – Professors Benny Tai and Chan Kin-man, and reverend Chu Yiu-ming – have also received calls.
Update: Hong Kong’s pro-democracy leaders slam post-election crackdown, accuse gov’t of political cleansing
“What message is this government sending to society after the chief executive election?” Chan Kin-man said.
Others targeted include:
- Democratic Party former lawmaker Lee Wing-tat.
- Former HKFS Standing Committee member Eason Chung Yiu-wah.
- Raphael Wong Ho-ming, vice chairman of the League of Social Democrats.
- Lawmakers Tanya Chan and Shiu Ka-chun.
Tanya Chan, also a barrister, said some of those targeted are facing the common law charge of public nuisance. Offenders face a maximum penalty of seven years behind bars.
Shiu was one of the leading emcees on the main stage in Admiralty during the 79-day protests. Police told him that he would soon face a trial and asked him to bring HK$10,000 bail money when he reported to police on Monday, according to RTHK.
Organisers of the Occupy movement either reported themselves to police or were arrested in 2015, shortly after a police crackdown ended the protests.
Protest leader Joshua Wong said on Twitter on Monday that a “large scale political persecution” was expected.
HK Police starts to arrest activists of the Umbrella Movement in 2014 THE NEXT DAY Carrie Lam were selected as the Chief Executive.
— Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 😷 (@joshuawongcf) March 27, 2017
Some of the leaders facing charges will report to the Wan Chai Police Headquarters together at 7:30pm on Monday.
Correction 13:20: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Chung Yiu-wah’s English name to be Eddie, as opposed to Eason.
