Hong Kong police today arrested out popstar Denise Ho along with 5 journalists during a raid on a pro-democracy media outlet. Hundreds of police took part in the raids on Stand News over an alleged ‘conspiracy to publish seditious publications’.
A statement from Hong Kong police said they conducted the raid under a warrant authorising them to ‘search and seize relevant journalistic materials’.
“Over 200 uniformed and plainclothes police officers have been deployed during the operation. The search operation is underway.”
The police also said they arrested 3 men and 3 women over the so-called conspiracy. The ‘crime’ carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
A local broadcaster later identified two of three of those arrested as Margaret Ng, and Denise Ho and Patrick Lam. 73-year-old Margaret Ng is a former member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. She and Denise Ho resigned as directors of Stand News earlier in 2021.
Denise Ho
Popstar Denise Ho came out in 2012 at the 4th annual Hong Kong Pride Parade. She announced she was ‘tongzhi’, Chinese slang for gay. However, the singer began touching on lesbianism in her songs a decade before her actual coming out.
Denise Ho’s political activism began with the 2014 Umbrella Movement. Her later arrest at a protest camp led to a ban on performing in China.
Acting chief editor Patrick Lam was also among the arrested along with deputy assignment editor Ronson Chan.
Pro-democracy activist Sunny Cheung tweeted that Beijing was eradicating all opposition.
“Outrageous. After the fall of the Apple Daily, StandNewsHK is the largest pro-democracy media that exists in HK safeguarding our freedom of press. It is obvious Beijing does not cease the political purge. Beijing is eradicating all room of the opposition.”
For the latest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) news in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
No Comment