A Hong Kong resident linked to the territory’s pro-democracy opposition was arrested in China over a plot to use a drone to disrupt a visit to the territory by a top Chinese Communist Party (CCP) member, state media reported on Sunday.
The man, identified as a 56-year-old Hong Konger surnamed Guo (郭), who had “financed several figures in the [Hong Kong] opposition,” was arrested in the Chinese border city of Shenzhen, Xinhua said.
According to the report, a member of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement “had told Mr Guo to buy a drone” that would be used for “disruptive activities” during this week’s visit to the semi-autonomous territory by third-ranked CCP member Zhang Dejiang (張德江).
Zhang, chairman of China’s National People’s Congress, the nation’s top legislature, who is also responsible for Hong Kong affairs, is scheduled to meet with business leaders and members of the local parliament during the trip.
The Hong Kong police confirmed the arrest on Sunday.
“We received a notification from [the] mainland this morning and we are trying to seek more information about this,” Hong Kong Police Assistant Commissioner Nelson Cheng (鄭耀武) told reporters.
Cheng said protesters would be banned from using drones during Zhang’s visit.
“We will, by all necessary means, prevent any suspicious objects from entering the security zone,” Cheng said.
Hong Kong is self-governing and retains liberties not seen in China under a “one country, two systems” deal, made before the territory was handed back to China by colonial power Britain in 1997. However, there are fears those freedoms are being eroded by increasing interference from Beijing.
Zhang is the most senior member of the CCP to visit Hong Kong since pro-democracy protests paralyzed parts of the territory for months in 2014.
Guo was described by the Shenzhen police as the “head of a criminal gang,” who was also arrested for money laundering, telephone fraud and the illegal sale of more than 800 Hong Kong residency cards, according to Xinhua.
Four other people — one Hong Konger and three Chinese — were also arrested.
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