'Yellow camp' platform man caught at airport

Another former member of the defunct Demosisto Chu Yan-ho was arrested yesterday after national security police smashed a "yellow camp" shopping reward platform - Mee-Punish Club - on Wednesday.

Chu, 24, was arrested for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and committing acts with seditious intent at the airport while trying to flee to Taiwan.

Five people have been arrested so far over the platform which police say provides financial support to overseas fugitives, including Nathan Law Kwun-chung - one of the eight wanted activists with a bounty of HK$1 million.

Chu's arrest came a day after that of four former Demosisto members behind the online platform - Ivan Lam Long-yin, William Liu Wai-lim, Arnold Chung Chin-ku and Li Kai-ching, on similar charges.

An online food wholesaler, LaiKei, founded in September by three protesters who had served jail terms, also announced it would cease operations yesterday. It had said it would use its profits to support those in prison.

Two of the eight wanted activists - barrister Dennis Kwok Wing-hang, who is in the United States, and lawyer Kevin Yam Kin-fung in Australia - are also facing professional conduct probes by their associations.

Bar Association chairman Victor Dawes yesterday said a complaint has been received against Kwok for violation of the national security law.

He said the association would not comment on individual complaints, but promised to deal with the complaint "seriously and expeditiously."

"The importance in safeguarding national security is a matter that goes without saying," he said, adding the complaint will be referred to the Barristers Disciplinary Tribunal.

Law Society president Chan Chak-ming also said a confidential investigation has been initiated against Yam.

"As a regulatory body for solicitors, the society attaches great importance to the conduct of our members. The society handles all complaints rigorously and deals with them in a fair, impartial and objective manner, based on facts and evidence," Chan said.

The Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong slammed western countries for adopting double standards in criticizing Hong Kong police actions.

"No country will turn a blind eye to collusion that endangers national security, and no criminal who incites hatred and separatism can go unpunished," it said.