Briefs | Joshua Wong confirms arrest at airport

Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was arrested at the city’s airport for breaching bail conditions, he said in a statement through his legal representative. Wong said he was being held in custody and that he expected to be released after a hearing today. His detention was earlier reported by Hong Kong-based Chinese-language Apple Daily. Wong was among several Hong Kong activists arrested in late August in a crackdown on protest leaders, and was released on bail shortly after his detention. Wong traveled to Taiwan last week to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen’s ruling party. A spokesman for the Hong Kong police said he cannot comment immediately.

Li Keqiang supports efforts to end unrest

Premier Li Keqiang said the Chinese government supports Hong Kong’s leaders to bring violent protests to an end, its highest-level official to comment on the city’s political crisis. Li, the No. 2 official in China’s ruling Communist Party, made the comments during a news conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. For her part, Merkel urged China to protect the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents and find a peaceful solution to the unrest. “People should believe that Chinese people have the ability and wisdom to manage its own affairs,” the Chinese premier said, adding that Beijing supported the government to end the violence to “safeguard Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.” Merkel said she supported Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s efforts to start a dialogue with the public. She called Lam’s decision last week to withdraw the extradition bill an important signal.

Top gov’t adviser says martial law not considered

A top adviser to Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the government has no plans to use a colonial-era statute that gives authorities broad powers similar to martial law. Bernard Chan, the convener of the city’s Executive Council, said in an interview that speculation that Lam could invoke the Emergency Regulations Ordinance has spiraled out of control since she said last week that all options are on the table. Chinese officials said last week that the law, introduced by the British in 1922 for use in case of emergency or public danger and last used to quell riots in the 1960s, could be implemented if needed. The law’s provisions include allowing arrests, property seizures, deportation, control of the ports and the power to restrict means of communication. In an extreme scenario, the government could even cut off access to the Internet.