Hong Kong police have taken two individuals into custody on suspicion of stealing and damaging posters promoting the upcoming “patriots-only” Legislative Council election, which is scheduled for December 7.
A 45-year-old man was arrested for alleged theft and criminal damage following a tip-off received by police on Wednesday morning. The report indicated that nine posters had been removed from outside a building in To Kwa Wan. One of the posters was found to be damaged.
After reviewing surveillance footage, police identified the suspect and detained him outside the same building later that afternoon. He is currently being held in police custody as investigations continue.
In a separate incident, a 71-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday afternoon in connection with two damaged LegCo election posters discovered on the ground beneath a pedestrian footbridge on Tsing Luk Street in Tsing Yi. The suspect is accused of criminal damage and is also being held for further investigation.
Police have emphasized that criminal damage and theft are serious offenses that can result in prison sentences of up to 10 years.
“Police reiterates that we adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any behavior that intends to interrupt or disrupt the Legislative Council election,” stated a police release in Chinese.
The arrests on Wednesday represent the latest in a series of law enforcement actions targeting damage to LegCo election promotional materials and campaign flags.
Earlier this week, a 39-year-old man was charged with criminal damage after he was caught in connection with a damaged campaign flag found in Sai Kung. Additionally, three teenagers were arrested for tearing down three posters in Tuen Mun.
The December elections mark the second legislative poll held since Hong Kong implemented a major overhaul of its electoral system. This reform ensures that only individuals deemed “patriots” will hold positions of power in the city. The changes have significantly reduced democratic representation in the legislature, tightened control over the electoral process, and introduced a pro-Beijing vetting panel responsible for selecting candidates.
The Hong Kong government has stated that these reforms are intended to maintain the city’s stability and prosperity. However, the changes have drawn criticism from the international community, as they make it extremely difficult for pro-democracy candidates to participate in the political process.