6 people including former leader of CTU arrested by HK national security department

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 06, 2022 09:52 PM

Former vice-chairman of the disbanded Confederation of Trade Unions (CTU) Leo Tang kin-wah was arrested by the national security police in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday for doing "acts of nuisance" in court, Hong Kong media reported.

Tang is reportedly among the four men and two women who were arrested by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force on Wednesday morning, according to the news release by the HKSAR government.

The detainees are suspected of doing an act or acts with seditious intention, contravening sections of the Crimes Ordinance, according to the authorities.

"Investigation revealed that the arrested persons are suspected of having purposely caused nuisance during their attendance for hearing in different courts, including the High Court, the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts and the Eastern Magistrates' Courts, between December 2021 and January 2022," read the news release. "These acts severely affected jurisdictional dignity and court operations."

A number of items in suspected connection with the case, including records of conspiracy to cause nuisance in the courts, were seized.

The disbanded CTU, which Tang used to serve, received more than $1.66 million from the US National Endowment for Democracy between 1994 and 2013. The Union is accused of repeatedly launching strikes and instigating illegal rallies.

The CTU announced that it had decided to disband in October 2021. However, the organization is yet to complete the procedures of cancelling its registration.

The police also reminded members of the public that "doing an act or acts with seditious intention to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Hong Kong" is a serious crime.

Violation of these sections could result in a prison sentence of up to two years, police said.