Hong Kong media: after the arrest of the leader, four "Hong Kong independence" people were refused asylum in the US consulate

In the morning, Zhong Hanlin went to the US Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao. As the consulate did not open, he went to a coffee shop in St. John's Building opposite. According to the South China Morning Post, at least three police officers appeared at the coffee shop after 8 o'clock and took Zhong Hanlin away. At present, he is being held at the Hong Kong Central Police Station.

[Text/Observer Li Huanyu] According to the report of Hong Kong "Eastnet" on October 27, Zhong Hanlin, the former convener of the "Student Movement Source" of the "Hong Kong Independence" organization, He Xinnuo and Chen Weixian, former members, were arrested by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police on October 27.

It is reported that Zhong Hanlin went to the US Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao on the 27th to seek "political asylum". After his arrest, another four former members of the "student movement source" went to the US Consulate to seek "political asylum" in the evening, but failed to enter. At least one of them was charged for participating in the "anti revisionist" protest.

The South China Morning Post reported that four people talked with the security guard at the entrance of the US Consulate on Garden Road to enter the museum, but they were refused. When replying to inquiries from other Hong Kong media, the US consulate said that there was no information to provide.

Picture of the US Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao Source: South China Morning Post

"Eastnet" reported that Zhong Hanlin went to the US Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao in the morning. Since the consulate did not open, he went to a coffee shop in St. John's Building opposite. According to the South China Morning Post, at least three police officers appeared at the coffee shop after 8 o'clock and took Zhong Hanlin away. At present, he is being held at the Hong Kong Central Police Station.

Zhong Hanlin is taken away Photo source: South China Morning Post

According to the social media page of "Student Movements" of "Hong Kong Independence" organization, a few hours after Zhong Hanlin's arrest, He Xinnuo and Chen Weixian were arrested when they went to the police station to report for duty. "Eastnet" said that Zhong Hanlin should also report to the police station when he came to Japan. In the afternoon, the special page updated the situation, saying that the three arrested people had been assisted by lawyers, and Zhong Hanlin was videotaping their statements accompanied by lawyers.

According to Eastnet, Zhong Hanlin was arrested on suspicion of violating Article 21 of the Hong Kong National Security Law to incite secession and money laundering. This person is the administrator of three social media pages of "Student Motivation Source", "Student Motivation Source US Branch" and "Founder of the Independence Party" of the "Hong Kong Independence" organization, all of which have published messages inciting others to split the country.

Among them, under the circumstance that Zhong Hanlin himself was arrested on July 29 (later released on bail) for the same crime, the "Student Movements US Branch" and the "Founding Independence Party" have still published posters inciting others to split the country since August.

Zhong Hanlin Image source: Eastnet

He Xinnuo (middle of the front row) was taken away from his residence Photo source: Eastnet

On July 29 this year, He Xinnuo, Chen Weixian, Zhong Hanlin and another former member of the organization were arrested on suspicion of violating Hong Kong's national security law for publishing content about splitting the country, inciting or abetting others to split the country in social media. After being detained for two days, four people were allowed to be released on bail. They had to report for duty every month and hand over their travel documents, which restricted them from leaving Hong Kong within six months from that day. This was the first time that the police cited Hong Kong's national security law to restrict individuals from entering and leaving Hong Kong.

According to the police investigation, they announced the establishment of an organization advocating "Hong Kong independence" on social media. The platform is to establish the so-called "Republic of Hong Kong". They also said that they would fight without a bottom line and unite all Hong Kong's "Hong Kong independence" to take action. This group is called "the founding of the independent party".

In addition, Zhong Hanlin was also suspected of destroying a five-star red flag in the demonstration area of Legislative Council Road last May. He was charged with a crime of criminal destruction, and the case was brought up in April this year.

At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 27, a Bloomberg reporter asked: "The South China Morning Post quoted anonymous people to report that officials of the national security department of the Hong Kong police arrested the activist Zhong Hanlin in a coffee shop near the US Consulate General in Hong Kong, who was preparing to seek asylum. What is the Ministry's comment on this?"

Wang Wenbin replied, "I don't know what you mentioned. China is a country governed by the rule of law and Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law. We support Hong Kong law enforcement agencies to perform their duties according to law."

This article is the exclusive contribution of Observer Network, and cannot be reproduced without authorization.