Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong ‘detained in Thailand’

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong ‘detained in Thailand’

  • 4 October 2016
  • From the section China

Joshua Wong celebrating after Hong Kong's legislative council electionsImage copyright
Reuters

Image caption

Joshua Wong helped to found the Demosisto political party earlier this year

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been detained by Thai authorities in Bangkok, according to the political party he heads.

Mr Wong was detained at Suvarnabhumi airport after landing there on a flight from Hong Kong, Demosisto said in a statement.

It cited Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal, who was waiting for Mr Wong.

Demosisto calls for Hong Kong’s right to self-determination.

It was founded by leaders of 2014’s “Umbrella protests” against Chinese political influence.

Mr Netiwit said Thai authorities had “received a letter from the Chinese government” regarding Mr Wong’s visit, the Demosisto statement says.

The Thai authorities are yet to comment.

The 19-year-old activist had been invited by Mr Netiwit to address students at Chulalongkorn University to mark the 40th anniversary of a massacre of students in 1976.

Speaking about the visit, Mr Netiwit told the South China Morning Post newspaper that Thailand could hold protests similar to the Umbrella movement.

Thailand remains under a military government since a 2014 coup.