What is ‘I want laam chau’? Crowdfund group linked to Hong Kong arrests of Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai and others under national security law
- Officers investigating group that called for Hong Kong to be sanctioned by foreign countries
- Group believed to have received substantial financial support from overseas bank accounts
Former student activist Agnes Chow Ting and two others arrested were also allegedly involved in the group, which, according to sources, is called “I want laam chau”, a Cantonese expression meaning “embrace and fry” that sums up the popular protest slogan: “If we burn, you burn with us.”
Force insiders said police were pursuing the six for alleged activities that took place after the enactment of the law late on June 30, and that the legislation was not being used retroactively.
The laam chau group’s most recent action was the launch of the “Rise From the Ashes” crowdfunding campaign on May 27, more than a month before the Beijing-drafted national security law on Hong Kong came into force – though the central government had by then indicated it would impose the legislation.
As of Tuesday, more than 17,900 donations had been made to the campaign, accounting for 96 per cent of the group’s US$1.75 million goal. The group had vowed to use the funds to support a range of initiatives for the coming two years, as well as a video production and two print advertisements in the United States or Britain if the goal was met.