Activist live-streams his arrest following ‘end to one-party rule’ banner protest

17th May 201614th November 2016 Tenzin Gaphel 2186 Views 0 Comments

Chantal Yuen, Hong Kong Free Press | May 17, 2016

Avery Ng Man-yuen, chairman of the pro-democracy League of Social Democrats party, has been arrested on suspicion of violating traffic laws after unfurling a protest banner calling for “an end to Chinese Communist one-party rule”. The stunt coincided with the arrival of Zhang Dejiang to Hong Kong on Tuesday. Zhang is the no. 3 official of China’s Politburo and is also in charge of Hong Kong affairs. He will be in the city until Thursday.

Despite unprecedented security precautions, the banner was hung from a bridge currently under construction on the North Lantau Highway, a road which Zhang was due to pass during his journey from the airport.

Banner hung from bridge. Photo: InMedia.

Along with Ng, the League of Social Democrats’ Vice-Chairman Derek Chan Tak-cheung, Vice-Secretary Derek Chau, and member Ma wan-ki were arrested.

Ng began live-streaming video on Facebook as he was standing below the construction site with the group. “Zhang Dejiang should stop being a coward and should go back to Beijing,” he said as he was escorted to a police car.

Commenting on the reason for his arrest, Chan said that he had “never heard of” such a violation.

Ng continued filming for a short time after he was ordered by the police to stop using his phone.

Meanwhile, another three members of the League of Social Democrats, including Vice-Chairman Raphael Wong Ho-ming and members Sze Ching-wee and Chow Kim-ho, were arrested after displaying banners saying “Universal suffrage in the whole of China” and “Retract the August 31 decision” on a hill around the Tsing Ma bridge, where Zhang’s car passed.