A 25-year-old female worker for Sham Shui Po district councillor Andy Lao Ka-hang has been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent during a dispute over signs that stated service would be refused to government supporters.
Officers from the Sham Shui Po District Crime Squad arrested the woman, surnamed Pun, shortly before 7am on Thursday at an apartment. She was held for investigation and later released on bail, she said on Facebook.
Her arrest came after a clash at the Civic Party district councillor’s office on Monday between staff and protesters angry at a sign that had been put up, reading “No blue ribbons and dogs allowed,” a derogatory reference to government supporters and police.
CCTV footage released online appeared to show several masked protesters thrashing at people inside the Cheung Sha Wan office, some of whom were using a rod. Pun and another female district councillor worker sustained arm injuries, she said on Facebook. Three people were arrested over the incident.
Police confirmed that the recently arrested woman was injured in the scuffle.
Lao, who represents the constituency of Nam Cheong North, has come under fire after he and another pro-democracy district councillor Leos Lee were accused of posting “discriminatory” notices refusing service to those with opposing political views.
Pro-Beijing group the Love Hong Kong Alliance held a protest outside the Legislative Council on Wednesday calling on Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung to publicly condemn Lao.
Vincent Cheng of the DAB, who stood against Lao and Wong Hiu-shing in the District Council Elections last November, also urged the two accused district councillors to apologise on Wednesday. He said that refusing to turn down customers over their political views could constitute misconduct in a public office, adding he would seek legal advice and report to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) later.
