'Hong Kong Protest Leader' Joshua Wong Released 3 Hours After Arrest

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Cho] Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong was arrested by the police on the 24th but released on bail after 3 hours.

According to dpa news agency and others, Wong was released 3 hours after his arrest and sent a text message to the media saying, "I am currently safe." Wong stated, "No matter what happens, I will continue to resist," and added, "I want to let the world know that Hong Kong people will not surrender."

Earlier, Wong announced on his Twitter that he was arrested by the police around 1 p.m. that day. He said, "It is related to participating in an unauthorized assembly on October 5 last year," and "He is also charged with violating the anti-mask law." It was reported that at the time of his arrest, Wong was holding a press conference in front of the Hong Kong Central Police Station regarding an ongoing trial.

Joshua Wong was a key figure in the 2014 Hong Kong Umbrella Movement and is considered a symbol of the Hong Kong democracy movement. Locally, there have been expectations that Wong would be charged with violating the Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law). Enacted on June 30, the Hong Kong Security Law prohibits and punishes collusion with foreign forces, acts of secession, subversion of state power, terrorism, and establishes institutions to enforce these within Hong Kong.

Ming Pao also reported that another democracy activist, Gu Tsuyao, was arrested at his home at 1 p.m. on the same day on the same charges.