HONG KONG - Police in Hong Kong said they had arrested three former lawmakers on Wednesday morning over May and June incidents in which foul-smelling liquid was thrown in the Legislative Council (Legco), an act police said was intended to cause harm.

Police said Ted Hui Chi-fung, Raymond Chan Chi-chuen and Eddie Chu Hoi-dick have been charged with attempting to use harmful substances with the intent to cause harm, mental injury or irritation to others

Ted Hui Chi-fung, Raymond Chan Chi-chuen and Eddie Chu Hoi-dick confirmed the arrests on their Facebook pages.

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Police said the trio had been booked for contempt and other offences by invoking relevant sections of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance and Offences against the Person Ordinance. The three men have been charged with attempting to use harmful substances with the intent to cause harm, mental injury or irritation to others, police said. They have been detained while the investigation continues.

Live television footage showed lawmakers Raymond Chan Chi-chuen and Eddie Chu Hoi-dick rushing to the front of the chamber during a June debate, splashing the reeking fluid as guards grappled with them. Police and firefighters arrived later.

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In May, Hui dropped a rotten plant in the middle of the meeting, footage showed.

Hui, a member of Democratic Party, said on Wednesday that officers came to his home to arrest him after accusing him of disturbing legislature proceedings and mentally disturbing the council's president, Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen.

With Reuters inputs