Policemen stand in front of the police headquarters where organizers of Hong Kong’s biggest pro-democracy rally were arrested in Hong Kong, July 4, 2014.
July 04, 2014 11:33 AM
Five members of an activist group that organized a massive political rally in Hong Kong earlier this week have been charged with minor offenses.
A Civil Human Rights Front leader said the group’s treasurer and another officer were among those taken into custody, along with a driver and two volunteers. Organizers say a half-million people demonstrated in the streets of Hong Kong on July 1 to challenge Beijing’s control over local elected officials.
The group posted to its Facebook account on Friday that the members, who are accused of blocking traffic, obstructing police and violating traffic safety, had been freed, but that police had confiscated their phones.
Some 500 people were arrested in what was largely a peaceful protest on a public holiday. The majority were released the following day.
Organizers say 510,000 people attended the protest on the 17th anniversary of the former British colony’s return to Chinese governance.
Police put the figure at just under 100,000.
