Hong Kong police arrest prominent pro-democracy activist

Jan 9, 2010, 11:08 GMT

Hong Kong - Hong Kong police Saturday arrested a prominent pro-democracy activist, accusing her of assaulting an officer during a demonstration outside Chinese government offices on January 1.

The arrest of Christina Chan, 22, by four officers as she left a radio studio was immediately criticized as an attack on free speech in the former British colony.

Chan was questioned over an alleged assault on a police officer outside Hong Kong's Beijing Liaison Office during a pro-democracy protest on New Year's Day involving an estimated 30,000 people.

She was also questioned over a second alleged assault on police during a protest over a controversial 8.6-billion-US-dollar rail link to China in November.

Two police officers and one protester were slightly injured in scuffles outside the Beijing Liaison Office, China's de-facto embassy in Hong Kong, at the end of the otherwise peaceful demonstration.

Chan was released on bail Saturday afternoon and told reporters she had been singled out to scare off other activists. 'I do think they (the Hong Kong government) are trying to suppress dissident voices,' she said.

Pro-democracy legislator Alan Leong said Chan's arrest was unnecessary and 'totally out of the ordinary' and might have been carried out to deter dissent.

Former Hong Kong chief secretary Anson Chan, a leading figure in the pro-democracy movement, told government-run radio station RTHK: 'I have to say I am astounded.

'This (arrest) is totally unnecessary and I fear it is only going to inflame the situation.'

The arrest of Chan, who rose to prominence through her pro-Tibet protests in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, came amid rising tensions between pro-democracy activists and the Hong Kong administration.

Hong Kong's Beijing-appointed leader Donald Tsang was warned by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao in December to tackle 'deep-rooted conflicts' in the city of 7 million more effectively.

On Friday, an estimated 8,000 protesters surrounded the legislative council building in Hong Kong to protest the government's rail link proposal.

Thousands more are expected to gather when the Hong Kong parliament reconvenes to decide whether to approve funding for the project next Friday.