NAN-F-39
Lawmaker
Hong Kong, Jan. 9, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Pro-independence Hong Kong legislator Nathan Law was attacked on Sunday night at the city’s international airport by a group of pro-Beijing, anti-independence protesters as he returned from Taiwan.
Law said in a statement that was issued on Monday that he was “splashed all over with liquid,’’ his clothes “torn apart’, adding that he was bruised after the incident.
The group also criticised police handling of the situation.
“Our team had already notified the Hong Kong Police force to pay attention to the situation.
“However, the police did not take appropriate measures to avoid the attack,” he said.
Fellow pro-independence advocate Joshua Wong said “Law, Hong Kong’s youngest legislator, was pushed.
“He was shoved and hit with placards as he was escorted through the airport by security staff.’’
Police responded that they had detained two men, aged 53 and 71, on Sunday.
The 53-year-old man, surnamed Gou, was later released, said the police.
A police statement said that the force would “not tolerate any violence; violation by any person” and that the force would show “impartial, fair and equitable treatment”.
The 23-year-old along had just returned to Hong Kong from Taiwan where he had attended a forum organised by local pro-independence legislators.
“During the visit, Law and Hong Kong politicians Wong, Eddie Chu and Edward Yiu and their teams were “stalked and kicked.
“Normal communications between the civil societies of Hong Kong and Taiwan should not be suppressed by the regime,” the legislator said.
While uncommon in Hong Kong, in mainland China, hired goons have been known to intimidate and rough up opposition candidates.
The topic of independence is a sensitive one to China, which considers Taiwan and Hong Kong to be inalienable parts of its territory.
In 2016, two politicians who advocated for Hong Kong’s independence from China and refused to pledge allegiance to China in their swearing-in oaths were barred from taking office in the city’s legislature.
China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since the end of the civil war in 1949.
Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 as a semi-autonomous region with different governance, legal and economic system to that of mainland China. (dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Celine Oyewole/Grace Yussuf