Hong Kong Watch responds to the arrest of eight pro-democracy lawmakers: they mark the latest attempt by Beijing to interfere in Hong Kong’s democracy

On 1st November, the Hong Kong Police arrested seven current and former pro-democracy lawmakers for scuffles that took place in the Legislative Council on 8th May after pro-Beijing politicians took control of the chairmanship of the House Committee, which decides which bills will come up for debate.

Those arrested include the Democratic Party Chair Wu Chi-wai and members Andrew Wan and Helena Wong, the Labour Party’s Fernando Cheung and Steven Kwok, and former legislators Eddie Chu and Ray Chan.

On Monday 2nd November, Democratic Party lawmaker Ted Hui was arrested by the Hong Kong Police. This takes the total number of pro-democracy lawmakers arrested for protesting in the Legislative Council in May to eight.

The scuffles were part of a confrontation when the pro-Beijing camp forcibly installed one of their politicians as the new chair, which prompted angry scenes and protests in the chamber, including security guards and pro-Beijing legislators physically dragging pro-democracy politicians out of the chamber.

Under the Legislative Council ordinance the pro-democracy lawmakers have been arrested under, anyone who creates or joins in a disturbance likely to interrupt the proceedings of the council or a committee, faces a potential fine of HK$10,000 (US$1,290) and imprisonment of up to 12 months.

The same maximum punishment applies to anyone who assaults, interferes with, molests, resists or obstructs any officer of the council while in the execution of his duty.

Commenting on the arrests of the seven pro-democracy lawmakers, Hong Kong Watch’s Chief Executive, Benedict Rogers said:

“It is a sad day for Hong Kong. These arrests mark the latest example of sustained political interference by the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong’s democracy, as it seeks to abuse the law to settle political scores.

The fact that the police have targeted pro-democracy lawmakers, while sparing pro-Beijing politicians who were filmed physically assaulting their opposite numbers and dragging them from the chamber demonstrates the arbitrary and political nature of these arrests.

It is clear that Beijing will not be content until it has reduced the Legislative Council to little more than a rubber stamp occupied by party apparatchiks and wholly removed from the people of Hong Kong.

The international community must act in response to this latest assault on Hong Kong’s freedoms, following other recent arrests, by a coordinated effort to impose targeted sanctions on those responsible for the erosion of Hong Kong’s freedoms and autonomy, and an effort at the United Nations to establish a mechanism to monitor human rights in Hong Kong."