Further detention by Japanese immigration authority looms for Hong Kong activists arrested over protest at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine
- Police can only detain pair till December 28, but immigration authority has stepped in and questioned their aim of entering Japan
- Duo held over act at controversial war shrine where they called for country’s government to apologise for Nanking massacre
Alex Kwok Siu-kit and Yim Man-wa, of the Action Committee for Defending the Diaoyu Islands, were arrested in Japan on December 12 on suspicion of trespassing at the capital’s Yasukuni Shrine and starting a fire at the site.
The shrine is dedicated to 2.5 million Japanese people killed in conflicts, including 14 of Japan’s top second world war criminals. It has been at the centre of frayed ties with the country’s Asian neighbours.
The pair’s lawyer Keiichiro Ichinose told the Post: “The court granted the Public Prosecutors Office’s request on Friday for the pair to be held [by police] until December 28.” He added that the intention was for more examination of evidence and questioning to be done.
“A public prosecutor questioned Yim on Friday, and is expected to question Kwok on December 25,” Ichinose said.