Hong KOng Police Arrest American Lawyer

Chinese police arrested an elderly American lawyer in Hong Kong yesterday. The 70+ year old individual, a long time resident of the former British colony was arrested, then taken to his law offices where his records were searched and confiscated before he was taken to an undisclosed location for incarceration. The man, John Clancey, was apprehended under the vague national Security LAw imposed on Hong Kong last year by Beijing Communists. He has been active in the pro-democracy groups that have become a thorn in the side of Beijing politicians. He worked for a firm founded by Albert Ho, a vetran pro-democracy leader in Hong Kong. His arrest came as part of a larger sweep of pro-democracy advocates across the city. Many of those arrested were involved in putting forward pro-democracy candidates for upcoming elections in the former colony. Mr. Clancey was the treasurer of a group Power for Democracy. He is also the chairman of the Asian Human Rights Commission and an executive committee member of the Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group. While practicing law in HK, Mr. Clancey specialized in medical malpractice and personal injury suits. He was admitted to the solitors ranks in HK in 1997. The American Embassy in Beijing has not commented on his situation at this time. Ahhh, China.