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Hong Kong Protests: Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong arrested

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 30 Aug 2019, 07:05 am Print

Hong Kong Protests: Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong arrested

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Hong Kong City: The Demosisto party said its secretary-general Joshua Wong, a pro-democracy activist in the city, was arrested by the police in Hong Kong city on Friday.

" Our secretary-general @joshuawong was just arrested this morning at roughly 7:30, when he was walking to the South Horizons MTR station. He was forcefully pushed into a private minivan on the street in broad daylight. Our lawyers following the case now," the party tweeted.

The police did not comment on the matter so far.

The activist's arrest comes a day ahead of a planned demonstration which has not received police approval, reported BBC.

Police said on Wednesday that some 900 people have been arrested since protests began in early June, triggered by a controversial extradition bill, reported the British media.

The bill has now been suspended.

The anti-government rallies still took place in the city for the past few weeks as they have now evolved into a broader pro-democracy movement demanding democratic reform and an investigation into alleged police brutality.

Protests have also taken place at Hong Kong International Airport and other tourist spots in the city. 

The protests are a big challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping who assumed power seven years ago.

The protesters say they are fighting to preserve the “one country, two systems” arrangement and a promise of freedom under which Hong Kong was returned to China as a specially administered region by the British 1997. 

Who is Joshua Wong?

Wong is a Hong Kong student activist and politician who serves as secretary-general of pro-democracy party Demosist?. Wong was previously convenor and founder of the Hong Kong student activist group Scholarism.

Wong first rose to international prominence during the 2014 Hong Kong protests, and his pivotal role in the Umbrella Movement.

He became the poster boy for the city's resistance, as thousands marched demanding the right for Hong Kong to choose its own leader. His latest arrest comes just weeks after he was released from prison in June, after serving time for his role in the Umbrella Movement, reported BBC.