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Helena Wong and Albert Ho interviewed by police at the police HQ in Wan Chai. Photo: Nora Tam

Democratic Party lawmakers among fresh arrests of key Occupy Central figures

Albert Ho, Helena Wong and Martin Lee all released unconditionally after attending police headquarters in Wan Chai

Peter So

Democratic Party lawmakers Albert Ho Chun-Yan and Helena Wong Pik-wan were released unconditionally this morning after they were interviewed by police under caution for participating in Occupy Central protests last year.

Police did not offer bail conditions after the nearly two-hour long interviews, despite telling the pair they could face future charges for participating in the unauthorised assemblies.

“Upon our arrival, police told me I am under arrest and will be interviewed under caution,” Ho said. ”But I told them at the outset I would not accept any bail terms.”

Police showed the lawmakers evidence of their involvement in the 79-day Occupy protests, including videos, news clippings and photographs taken between late-September and mid-December last year.

Watch: Hong Kong lawmakers hand themselves in over Occupy protests

Ho said he did not provide substantial information to assist the investigation.

Last month, 32 activists were held in the first round of post-Occupy arrests. Some were related to the more serious offences of organising, or inciting others to take part in, an unauthorised assembly.

They included student leader Joshua Wong Chi-fung and three Occupy founders – Reverend Chu Yiu-ming and academics Benny Tai Yiu-ting and Dr Chan Kin-man. No charges were laid against them but police reserved the right to prosecute.

Martin Lee greets Occupy supporters outside police HQ. Photo: Nora Tam

A further 11 Occupy leaders, including Ho and Wong, received telephone calls from police last week to face “arrest by appointment”.

This morning, Ho, Wong and Democratic Party founding chairman Martin Lee Chu-Ming reported to police headquarters in Wan Chai.

Lee was also released unconditionally after a two-hour interview, but he did not answer reporters’ questions. It is understood that he faces nine charges for participating in the unauthorised assemblies.

Some 30 pan-democrats and Occupy leaders, including co-founders Tai and Chan, gave a show of support outside police headquarters with banners and yellow umbrellas, the symbol of the Occupy movement.

A police source earlier told the that the Department of Justice was expected to decide soon on whether to press charges against the 32 activists arrested last month. “The department’s decision, and what charges to press, will have a bearing on the next round of arrests,” the source said.

On December 15, after the final Occupy site in Causeway Bay was cleared that morning, Police Commissioner Andy Tsang Wai-hung said the force was aiming to complete its investigation in three months and that more arrests would be made.

He also said the force would devote extra resources to investigate the “principal instigators” of the Occupy movement.

However, Chan said he has not been contacted by police since he refused bail.

IT legislator Charles Mok and former Civic Party lawmaker Audrey Eu Yuet-mee are expected to report to police headquarters later today.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Police release more pan-dems without conditions
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