1st LD Writethru: HK police arrest 14 people for organizing, participating in unauthorized assemblies
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E-mail Xinhua, April 18, 2020
HONG KONG, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong police said they arrested 14 people on Saturday for their involvement in several unauthorized assemblies during the unrest in 2019.
The arrested, aged between 24 and 81, include 12 males and two females suspected of violating Hong Kong's Public Order Ordinance by organizing and taking part in the unauthorized assemblies on the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon on Aug. 18, Oct. 1 and Oct. 20, 2019, the police said at a media briefing on Saturday afternoon.
Five of them were also suspected of making announcement about unauthorized public processions on Sept. 30 and Oct. 19, 2019.
The arrested have been or will be prosecuted with relevant charges, and are scheduled to appear before a court on May 18.
The case is being followed up by the Regional Crime Unit of Hong Kong Island Region, the police said, adding that the police operation is ongoing and more people may be arrested.
According to reports by Hong Kong media, the arrested include Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, Martin Lee Chu-ming and Albert Ho Chun-Yan, the major instigators of the Hong Kong riots.
This is the second time in less than two months for Lai to be arrested by the Hong Kong police for his role in the riots.
Lai was arrested on Feb. 28 and charged with "knowingly participating in unauthorized assembly" and "criminal intimidation." He was released on bail later that day and scheduled to appear before court on May 5.
A spokesman for the HKSAR government's Security Bureau said on Saturday that the relevant arrests were made based on evidence from investigations and strictly according to the laws in force.
Under section 10 of Hong Kong's Police Force Ordinance, the police have the duty to take lawful measures for apprehending all persons whom it is lawful to apprehend and for whose apprehension sufficient grounds exist, the spokesman noted.
"In Hong Kong, everyone is equal before the law. No one is above it nor can anyone break it without facing consequences. If there is evidence that anyone violates the law, no matter what his or her status or background is, he or she must face justice. No one has any special privileges," said the spokesman.
"The police will handle the case in a fair, just and impartial manner in accordance with the law," he added. Enditem
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