Protests As Eight Arrested In Fo Tan Raid

Eight people have been arrested after a raid on an industrial building in Fo Tan, prompting about 100 anti-government protesters to gather outside nearby police stations.

Officers in riot gear entered the Haribest Industrial Building some time after 10pm on Thursday and began taking away bags full of equipment from one of the units inside.

Seven men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of possessing offensive weapons. Multiple reports say that Chan Ho-tin, the convenor of the now-banned Hong Kong National Party, was among those arrested.

Police said the materials seized included material for making petrol bombs, bows and arrows, as well as essential oils containing cannabis-derived substances.

Soon afterwards, more than 100 people gathered outside Sha Tin Police Station and began building barricades around entrances. On learning that the suspects were being held at Ma On Shan police station, the crowd moved there, again spraying graffiti and building barricades.

The crowd eventually dispersed at around 3am when police vans carrying officers in riot gear arrived at the scene.

The raid comes ahead of another major demonstration in Mong Kok on Saturday. Police refused the organiser permission to hold a march, citing public safety and traffic concerns, but allowed a rally on a football pitch from which the procession had been due to begin.

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