By Yanni Chow
https://muckrack.com/yanni-chow
Hong Kong police arrested on Friday pro-democracy politician Tam Tak-chi, who is expected to run for a seat in the legislature in September’s election, on charges including incitement to participate in unlawful assembly.
Tam, 47, the vice-president of the People Power party and a former radio host, won an unofficial primary poll organised by the opposition to select candidates for the Legislative Council vote.
The arrest comes days after Beijing officials and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said the primaries were illegal and may violate a new national security law.
After hearing the charges, Tam told reporters they were unrelated to the new law.
Police said the incitement to take part in an unlawful assembly charge was related to a January protest. It did not say what the charges for seditious intention and disorder in public places were related to.
Tam said they were for swearing at the police and shouting “Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our times,” in January, a slogan the government declared illegal earlier this month under the new law, which is not retroactive. Sedition is covered by British colonial era legislation.
When addressing reporters, Tam shouted the slogan again.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security/hong-kong-police-arrest-pro-democracy-politician-set-to-run-for-legislature-idUSKCN24I1KF