15 prominent pro-democracy leaders were arrested in a crackdown on 18 April 2020.
They're suspected of organising and taking part in illegal assemblies in 2019, in protests sparked by the now-shelved extradition law.
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(Aired on ViuTVSix on 18 April 2020)
Full Script:
It was a career first for senior counsel Martin Lee to be a defendant himself.
But the 81-year-old pro-democracy veteran who founded the Democratic Party and also helped write the city's Basic Law, was resolute after his arrest today.
(Soundbite, MARTIN LEE, Founding Chairman, the Democratic Party)
"I have no regrets for all that I've done. I feel proud to join some excellent young people of Hong Kong and continue the journey to democracy with them."
Police rounded up at least 15 prominent political figures. It included Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, Civi Party founding member and barrister Margaret Ng, and sitting lawmaker Leung Yiu-chung, who was arrested after he attended a Legco meeting today.
They're being charged with organising or taking part in unlawful assemblies, with some also suspected of "publicising an unauthorised meeting" last year.
The authorities had turned down organisers' applications to host the protests linked to the arrests.
But, without any organiser in charge, large crowds defied the police ban and rallied on the street to protest police brutality and demand universal suffrage.
News of these arrests hit as lawmakers debated in the Finance Committee.
(Soundbite, CLAUDIA MO, HK First lawmaker)
"We talk about rule of law in Hong Kong, and then it deteriorated into rule by law. And now the Hong Kong government led by Carrie Lam is trying very hard to introduce rein of terror in Hong Kong."
(Soundbite, REGINA IP, New People's Party lawmaker)
"Nobody is above the law, whether the person is a celebrity, a member of Council, or a former member."
Many of the past months' protesters marched out because they're worried their civic rights are under threat from pressure from Beijing.
And today's high profile arrests are certainly adding to those heightening concerns, especially with Legislative Council elections coming up this year.
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