Asia

Pro-Democracy Activist Joshua Wong Arrested By Hong Kong Police

The pro-democracy activist was charged with attending an illegal demonstration in 2019 and wearing a face mask during the protest.

Pro-Democracy Activist Joshua Wong Arrested By Hong Kong Police
Vincent Yu / AP
SMS

Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was arrested yet again by Hong Kong authorities. The 23-year-old posted bail and was released just hours later.

His social media accounts said he was accused of participating in an unauthorized assembly last year and violating a pre-coronavirus law that banned people from wearing face masks in public – which was already common practice in the Chinese territory prior to the pandemic. 

The law was allegedly aimed at preventing citizens from obscuring their identity. Wong's pro-democracy group disbanded this summer after China passed controversial national security legislation.

He and many other activists have been arrested numerous times for various charges that were relatively minor offenses related to political speech and assemblies.

Wong told reporters in Hong Kong this was the third case he's faced since he was released from prison last June. But Wong said, quote, “No matter what happens, I will still continue to resist.”