News / China

3 former lawmakers arrested in Hong Kong for attempting to harm others

Wednesday, 18 November 2020 6:57 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 18 November 2020 9:19 AM ]

This image, taken on June 4, 2020, shows the then-MP Ted Hui (C) being removed by security guards after throwing a jar containing a foul-smelling liquid onto the floor during a debate at a session of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, China. (By AFP)

Three former lawmakers have been arrested in Hong Kong for attempting to cause harm to others during incidents inside the semi-autonomous Chinese city’s legislature building earlier this year.

Police in Hong Kong took Ted Hui, Ray Chan, and Eddie Chu into custody on Wednesday morning.

The three men were charged over incidents in May and June in which harmful substances were released in the city’s legislature building with the intent to cause harm, mental injury, or irritation to other people.

The three confirmed the arrests on their Facebook pages.

Hui, who is linked to the city’s Democratic Party, said on Wednesday that he had been charged with causing disturbance during the legislature proceedings. He was also charged over a complaint by the council’s president, Andrew Leung, for causing mental disturbance.

Last week, four Hong Kongese opposition lawmakers were disqualified over national security concerns. Alvin Yeung, Kwok Ka-ki, and Dennis Kwok of the Civic Party and Kenneth Leung of the Professionals Guild were disqualified. That prompted the rest of opposition lawmakers to resign en masse in a gesture of protest.

Hong Kong disqualifies 4 lawmakers for threatening national security

Hong Kong disqualifies four opposition lawmakers for jeopardizing national security.

Hong Kong was rocked by riots over a bill that would have reformed its extradition law last year. Violent individuals vandalized the city, destroying public and private property and attacking anyone deemed to be pro-government. Hong Kong dropped that bill, but the acts of violence continued.

Earlier this year, the city enacted a new national security law, criminalizing sedition, secession, and subversion against the mainland.

Some opposition lawmakers openly called for Western intervention to stop the law from being enacted in the city and propagated in favor of secession from mainland China.

The United States actively supported the protest leaders and attempted to stir anti-China sentiments in the city.

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