Various international media, including Reuters, have reported that an allegedly American lawyer, John Clancey, was taken in by police as part of the widespread arrests of pro-democratic supporters in Hong Kong earlier on Wednesday.
Should this be confirmed, the arrest, along with that of numerous other pro-democracy supporters, potentially represents a significant escalation of steps taken under national security law introduced in the middle of last year.
A spokesperson for the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong declined to comment when queried by finews.asia.
Founding Member
The website of the law firm cited in the media reports, Ho, Tse Wai & Partners, states that a John Clancey practices there and is chairman of the Asian Human Rights Commission and the Asian Legal Resource Centre and a founding member of the Executive Committee of the China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group.
His citizenship was not provided although it is indicated that he earned a BA at Maryknoll College, masters degrees (Arts and Divinity) at the University of the State of New York before going on to study at the University of London and then the University of Hong Kong.
The website says the law firm was founded by Albert Ho in 1995, who is a former Democracy Party lawmaker.
