By Associated Press
HONG KONG: A outstanding Hong Kong singer and pro-democracy activist was arrested by the town’s anti-corruption watchdog Monday over accusations that he broke the legislation by singing at a political rally three years in the past.
The arrest of Anthony Wong Yiu-Ming is the newest official transfer towards those that had been pushing for larger democracy within the semiautonomous Chinese territory.
Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption stated Wong carried out two songs on the 2018 rally and urged attendees to vote for pro-democracy candidate Au Nok-hin in a legislative by-election.
The watchdog additionally charged Au, who gained the election, partially for publicizing the rally on social media and saying that Wong could be performing.
The watchdog stated in a press release that offering others with refreshments and leisure at an election occasion is “a corrupt conduct and a serious offence” and is towards the elections ordinance.
Local media reported that Wong was launched on bail. Au, in the meantime, has been in jail since March. Au was one of many 47 pro-democracy activists arrested for alleged subversion over an unofficial main election they held final 12 months.
The arrests come as authorities crack down on dissent in Hong Kong following 2019 anti-government protests sparked by issues that the previous British colony was shedding the freedoms it was promised when it was handed over to Chinese management in 1997.
Beijing final 12 months imposed a sweeping nationwide safety legislation that has since been used to arrest greater than 100 pro-democracy figures. Changes have additionally been made to Hong Kong’s election legal guidelines to scale back the variety of immediately elected lawmakers and provides a largely pro-Beijing committee the leeway to appoint lawmakers aligned with Beijing.
The crackdown has drawn criticism from many governments around the globe.
Wong rose to fame within the Eighties because the vocalist for pop duo Tat Ming Pair and later launched into a solo profession.
He turned an outspoken supporter of the town’s democracy motion, backing the 2019 protests in addition to the so-called Umbrella Revolution protests that hit the town in 2014. His help for the 2014 protests led to a ban on performing in mainland China and noticed his music faraway from streaming websites.
