One Arrest, 36 Fined During Tuesday Night Protests

The police on Wednesday said one man was arrested and 36 others were fined during protests in Mong Kok and Sha Tin on Tuesday night in response to the recent arrests of Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai and others on suspicion of national security law violations.

The force said a 71-year-old man was arrested at the intersection of Portland and Shantung Streets for allegedly assaulting an officer.

The suspect was taken to Kwong Wah Hospital after he reported that he was hurt.

Police say they issued tickets to 29 people in Mong Kok and seven in Sha Tin for allegedly violating the ban on public gatherings.

Meanwhile, a Polytechnic University student publication reported that one of its reporters was injured while covering the protest in Mong Kok.

The publication said police had suddenly charged at the reporter and wrestled him to the ground before an officer knelt on his neck.

It said the reporter was sent to hospital with bruises and abrasions on his face, neck, arms and legs.

He was said to have been searched by the police and issued a fine for violating social distancing rules earlier. The reporter is to make a formal complaint, it said.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association on Wednesday strongly condemned the force, accusing officers of using unnecessary force.

In a statement, it said besides the incident involving the Polytechnic University journalist, many other reporters were pressed to the ground when a large group of officers suddenly raced out of their own cordon at around 9pm by Grand Centre on Nathan Road.

The HKJA said officers then brought a large number of journalists into an expanded cordon and demanded them to stop recording and present their press passes, while warning that “fake reporters” would be given penalty tickets for violating the gathering ban.

Many student reporters and those representing online media, it said, were subsequently fined.

Armed police had dispersed people who gathered at shopping malls on Tuesday evening, warning people to leave or risk being found in violation of the public gathering ban.

Many people later continued protesting on the streets outside the Langham Place mall, chanting slogans including “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times”.

Police responded by warning them they may be in violation of the new national security law.

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