Hongkonger among seven detained in Macau over rally in support of anti-government protests
- Police had denied organisers permission for gathering at iconic Senado Square tourist spot
- Six men and one woman detained as police also stop and search group of men in white
Macau police detained seven people on Monday at the site of a planned rally in support of Hong Kong’s anti-government protesters.
A Hongkonger was among the six men and one woman held after dozens of people dressed in black descended on the iconic Senado Square tourist spot at around 8pm.
In a rare move, police had earlier denied permission for the gathering to go ahead citing security concerns, and organisers had asked people not to attend after heavily promoting the event online.
Police had deployed dozens of officers before people showed up said António Ng Kuok-cheong, a pro-democracy legislator in the casino city.
Still, dozens defied the ban, and police carried out identity checks and detained a number of those who had shown up. Two of those held, who were among four locals, two people from mainland China, and the Hongkonger, told local media they had just gone to the spot to meet friends, and did not know why police had checked their identities.