Hong Kong police arrested on Friday two people on the suspicion of advertising and publicizing a public meeting that has been prohibited by the police, including Chow Hang-tung, vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China.
The Security Bureau warned that anyone who takes part in an unauthorized assembly may be liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for five years
The senior superintendent of police at the New Territories South Regional Headquarters, Terry Law Kwok-hoi, told reporters police arrested a 36-year-old member of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and a 20-year-old food delivery man for promoting an unauthorized assembly, without naming them.
The pair is alleged to have used social media to advertise and publicize a public meeting that has been prohibited by police. They face up to five years in jail as per provisions of the Public Order Ordinance, the officer said.
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Police had earlier rejected the Alliance’s application for holding a public meeting on June 4 citing concerns over public order and serious health risks brought about by the pandemic. An appeal by the Alliance was rejected on May 29.
Law said the behavior of the duo, which violated the law and incited others to break the law, was “irresponsible”.
Police on Friday cordoned off large swathes of Victoria Park – where the unauthorized assembly had been planned – in accordance with the Public Order Ordinance.
In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, a spokesman for the Security Bureau called on members of the public not to enter the cordoned areas, including the central lawn, soccer pitches and basketball courts of Victoria Park, or else they will contravene the law.
The Security Bureau reiterated that no one should take part in or publicize an unauthorized assembly.
"Police will take resolute enforcement action according to the law in a serious manner" if anyone attempts to challenge the law, the spokesman added.
The bureau warned that anyone who takes part in an unauthorized assembly may be liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for five years.