Occupy founders arrested, then freed
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THE founders of Hong Kong’s Occupy Central movement were arrested and released yesterday as the city’s police chief defended the investigation into mass protests, saying it was not “a show.”
A number of protest leaders have been arrested and released without charge, with some calling the investigation harassment.
Occupy founder Benny Tai said that he, Chan Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming were formally arrested on accusations of organizing and participating in an illegal assembly, but were not charged. They were released after three hours.
“Three of us were showed some videos and articles ... we were released unconditionally,” he said.
More than two months of street rallies over the election of the city’s next chief executive ended in December when protest camps were cleared, but police have vowed to investigate the “principal instigators.”
Police chief Andy Tsang defended the investigation earlier yesterday.
“The police made the arrangements (for the arrests) in private and it was never made public. How can you say it’s a PR show? Who told you they would go to a police station? We should be clear whose show it is,” he told reporters, confirming that those released might be asked back as the investigation is ongoing.
While other protest leaders have questioned police motives, Tai said he trusted the rule of law.
“I still trust the police and the prosecution ... will strictly follow the requirements of Hong Kong laws in any investigation,” he said.
“The public can make their own judgment on whether there are any political motives behind their investigation.”
Media tycoon Jimmy Lai and student leaders including Joshua Wong and Alex Chow have also been arrested and released as part of the widespread investigation.
The Occupy founders first turned themselves in at the beginning of December in a move to get the protests off the streets after violent clashes, but were not arrested.
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