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| Hong Kong Police Arrest 9 Ahead of Contentious Vote | |
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| HONG KONG — The Hong Kong police said on Monday that they had taken nine people into custody, including at least one member of a “local radical organization,” after finding components of explosives in an abandoned television studio. | HONG KONG — The Hong Kong police said on Monday that they had taken nine people into custody, including at least one member of a “local radical organization,” after finding components of explosives in an abandoned television studio. |
| The announcement came two days before a contentious debate and vote on how the city will elect its next leader, prompting questions about whether the action was timed for political effect. | The announcement came two days before a contentious debate and vote on how the city will elect its next leader, prompting questions about whether the action was timed for political effect. |
| The police linked the arrests to the most strident local voices against the Chinese government. But they did not name the suspects who were arrested or the radical organization, nor did they identify the specific explosive components that were found. | The police linked the arrests to the most strident local voices against the Chinese government. But they did not name the suspects who were arrested or the radical organization, nor did they identify the specific explosive components that were found. |
| Alan Leong, leader of the Civic Party, which favors greater democracy in Hong Kong, said the police announcement “really leaves many unanswered questions.” He said that people should be wary of official attempts to tarnish democracy supporters. “We should be guarded, especially when such an announcement came at such a time, which is highly sensitive.” | Alan Leong, leader of the Civic Party, which favors greater democracy in Hong Kong, said the police announcement “really leaves many unanswered questions.” He said that people should be wary of official attempts to tarnish democracy supporters. “We should be guarded, especially when such an announcement came at such a time, which is highly sensitive.” |
| At the police news conference, Au Chin-chau, the chief superintendent of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, said that the nine people, five men and four women, were all Hong Kong citizens, and that they had been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to manufacture explosives. | At the police news conference, Au Chin-chau, the chief superintendent of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, said that the nine people, five men and four women, were all Hong Kong citizens, and that they had been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to manufacture explosives. |
| Superintendent Au said that two of the suspects were arrested Sunday night in Sai Kung, a suburban area, where they were “planning to test” the explosiveness of some chemicals that he did not identify. Later, in a home search, the police seized “the ingredients of the precursors of TATP, a form of high explosive,” he said. | Superintendent Au said that two of the suspects were arrested Sunday night in Sai Kung, a suburban area, where they were “planning to test” the explosiveness of some chemicals that he did not identify. Later, in a home search, the police seized “the ingredients of the precursors of TATP, a form of high explosive,” he said. |
| Ng Wai-hon, another superintendent, said the police had seized more than 22 pounds of chemicals related to explosives at the former television studio. The studio, abandoned years ago, is covered by graffiti and frequented by paintball enthusiasts. | Ng Wai-hon, another superintendent, said the police had seized more than 22 pounds of chemicals related to explosives at the former television studio. The studio, abandoned years ago, is covered by graffiti and frequented by paintball enthusiasts. |
| The police also confiscated about half a gallon of a liquid used to make TATP from the home of one suspect, Superintendent Ng said. | The police also confiscated about half a gallon of a liquid used to make TATP from the home of one suspect, Superintendent Ng said. |
| The police declined to say whether the suspects were thought to have political motives, but they said they found maps of Admiralty and Wan Chai, the districts where the Hong Kong municipal government and the police have their headquarters. | The police declined to say whether the suspects were thought to have political motives, but they said they found maps of Admiralty and Wan Chai, the districts where the Hong Kong municipal government and the police have their headquarters. |
| There is a possibility that “this group of people might want to do something in that particular location,” Superintendent Au said. | There is a possibility that “this group of people might want to do something in that particular location,” Superintendent Au said. |
| He said sketches of explosive devices were found on computers and mobile devices at the suspects’ homes, along with a formula for making smoke grenades. The police displayed several air rifles, Guy Fawkes masks and fliers advocating “localism” that they said they found in the home searches. | He said sketches of explosive devices were found on computers and mobile devices at the suspects’ homes, along with a formula for making smoke grenades. The police displayed several air rifles, Guy Fawkes masks and fliers advocating “localism” that they said they found in the home searches. |
| In Hong Kong, localism refers to calls for a free election of the city’s leader and to rejection of the growing influence of mainland China here. Some members of pro-localism groups have staged protests in which they confront shoppers from the mainland. | In Hong Kong, localism refers to calls for a free election of the city’s leader and to rejection of the growing influence of mainland China here. Some members of pro-localism groups have staged protests in which they confront shoppers from the mainland. |
| Demonstrations opposing a plan backed by the national government in Beijing to change the way Hong Kong’s leader will be selected are expected outside the city’s legislature this week. Voters are scheduled to choose the chief executive directly for the first time in 2017, but Beijing handed down a ruling last August saying that all candidates must be approved by a committee dominated by Beijing loyalists. A bill to write that ruling into law in Hong Kong is scheduled to be presented to lawmakers on Wednesday. | Demonstrations opposing a plan backed by the national government in Beijing to change the way Hong Kong’s leader will be selected are expected outside the city’s legislature this week. Voters are scheduled to choose the chief executive directly for the first time in 2017, but Beijing handed down a ruling last August saying that all candidates must be approved by a committee dominated by Beijing loyalists. A bill to write that ruling into law in Hong Kong is scheduled to be presented to lawmakers on Wednesday. |
| Pro-democracy members of the legislature have demanded wider public participation in the nominating process, and have promised to block the bill. If they succeed, the chief executive would continue to be chosen by a committee of 1,200 people, rather than by voters directly. | Pro-democracy members of the legislature have demanded wider public participation in the nominating process, and have promised to block the bill. If they succeed, the chief executive would continue to be chosen by a committee of 1,200 people, rather than by voters directly. |
| If the bill passes, though, it may incite demonstrations and unrest in the streets, as the original ruling did last year, political analysts say. To prepare for possible trouble, the legislature has already put up metal fences around entrances to its building, and the police have warned protesters not to take “any violent or aggressive action.” | If the bill passes, though, it may incite demonstrations and unrest in the streets, as the original ruling did last year, political analysts say. To prepare for possible trouble, the legislature has already put up metal fences around entrances to its building, and the police have warned protesters not to take “any violent or aggressive action.” |
| Carrie Lam, the No. 2 official in the municipal government, expressed worry on Sunday about potential violence, and urged protesters to remain peaceful. | Carrie Lam, the No. 2 official in the municipal government, expressed worry on Sunday about potential violence, and urged protesters to remain peaceful. |
| “We’ve seen radicals trying to mobilize people online to carry out more violent behaviors,” she told reporters after appearing on a radio program. “I appeal to those who want to join the rallies outside the Legislative Council building to steer clear of those people.” | “We’ve seen radicals trying to mobilize people online to carry out more violent behaviors,” she told reporters after appearing on a radio program. “I appeal to those who want to join the rallies outside the Legislative Council building to steer clear of those people.” |
| Still, pro-democracy lawmakers said they thought there was little likelihood of premeditated violence this week. | Still, pro-democracy lawmakers said they thought there was little likelihood of premeditated violence this week. |
| “I think this is a rather isolated incident,” Albert Ho, a legislator, said of the arrests announced by the police on Monday. “I have not heard of a case of intended violence for political purposes since the ’67 riots in Hong Kong, when local communists confronted police and the colonial administration.” | “I think this is a rather isolated incident,” Albert Ho, a legislator, said of the arrests announced by the police on Monday. “I have not heard of a case of intended violence for political purposes since the ’67 riots in Hong Kong, when local communists confronted police and the colonial administration.” |
| Steve Vickers, the chief executive of SVA, a political and corporate risk consultancy in Hong Kong, and a former chief of police intelligence under British rule, said the explosives the suspects were said to be trying to make would be difficult to handle. | Steve Vickers, the chief executive of SVA, a political and corporate risk consultancy in Hong Kong, and a former chief of police intelligence under British rule, said the explosives the suspects were said to be trying to make would be difficult to handle. |
| “TATP is not easily available in a finished state, but the Internet and YouTube make it easy to come up with the ingredients,” Mr. Vickers said. Unless they are experts, he said, people who try to make and use it “probably present a greater threat to themselves than the public.” | “TATP is not easily available in a finished state, but the Internet and YouTube make it easy to come up with the ingredients,” Mr. Vickers said. Unless they are experts, he said, people who try to make and use it “probably present a greater threat to themselves than the public.” |