Police arrest 6 pro-democracy legislators in Hong Kong

Six pro-democracy legislators in Hong Kong have been arrested and charged by police in a move which could spark more public anger a day after the death of a university student identified as Chow Tze-Lok linked to months of anti-government protests.

The legislators were arrested on Saturday for obstructing the local assembly during a raucous May 11 meeting over a now-shelved China extradition bill that sparked the protests.

Other pro-democracy legislators said the clampdown was a calculated move after Chow’s death to provoke more violence, which would then be used as an excuse to postpone or cancel November 24 district elections.

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“We’ll say no to their plans,” legislator Tanya Chan told a news conference. “It is a de facto referendum for all Hong Kong voters to cast their vote and say no to police brutality and say no to our unjust system.”

The arrest of the pro-democracy legislators comes after recent weeks of growing calls for disbanding, or at least reorganising of the police force following accusations of brutality against protesters.

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