Police officers stand guard outside the police headquarters in Wan Chai on June 21, 2019. (ROY LIU / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong police on Tuesday arrested eight activists, including former lawmakers and incumbent district councilors, for their alleged roles in an unauthorized assembly on July 1. 

The arrestees include former lawmakers Wu Chi-wai, Eddie Chu Hoi-dick and Leung Kwok-hung; district councilors Andy Chui Chi-kin, Lancelot Chan Wing-tai, Tsang Kin-shing, and local activist group members Chan Ho-wun and Tang Sai-lai, according to local media reports.

In a written reply to media, police said they have noticed that some people on June 30 incited the public to take part in an unauthorized assembly they planned to hold on Hong Kong Island the next day. 

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On July 1, some of them jointed others to organize and led a procession party to take part in the unauthorized assembly in Wan Chai. 

In a written reply to media, police said they have noticed that some people on June 30 incited the public to take part in an unauthorized assembly they planned to hold on Hong Kong Island the next day

After in-depth investigation and seeking legal advice from the Department of Justice, the Police’s Crime Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters arrested eight men aged 24 to 64.

They were detained for incitement to knowingly take part in an unauthorized assembly, holding or organizing an unauthorized assembly and knowingly taking part in an unauthorized assembly under the Public Order Ordinance, according to the police.

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According to the ordinance, participation in an unlawful assembly can lead to a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Responding to the case in a press briefing on Tuesday morning, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor stressed that it is wrong to assume that the government can’t take action against someone who is deemed as “pro-democrat", even if they are suspected to have broken the law.

This is also in line with the rule of law as no one or no place is outside the reach of the long arm of the law, Lam said. 

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