Hong Kong police rearrested a prominent democracy activist after revoking her bail Wednesday, the eve of a sensitive double anniversary of the city’s handover to China and the Communist Party’s centenary.
Lawyer Chow Hang-tung, one of the few remaining democracy activists not already in jail or exile, was initially detained on 4 June for publicising a banned vigil commemorating Beijing’s deadly Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.
Chow, 37, is one of the vice-chairs of the Hong Kong Alliance which organises the annual vigil.
She was released on bail two days later.
“We have learned that the police bail granted to Chow Hang-tung regarding the arrest made on June 4 this year was revoked earlier today and she is now under arrest again,” Chow’s relatives and friends told media on Wednesday.
It is unclear whether Chow will be charged.
Chow was also the legal representative for three democracy groups appealing a police ban on 1 July demonstrations marking the 24th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover from Britain.
Authorities have rejected the appeal and warned the public not to participate in or advertise unauthorised assemblies.
It is the second year in a row that Hong Kong police have banned the handover day rally, typically a platform to vent frustrations against Beijing.
Wednesday also marks one year since Beijing imposed the sweeping national security law on Hong Kong in response to huge — and often violent — protests in 2019.
— AFP