Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong detained in Thailand, say reports

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been detained in Thailand purportedly on the request of China and will shortly be flown back to Hong-Kong, reports say.

Wong's political party, Demosisto, posted on Facebook that he was held after landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. He had travelled to Bangkok following an invitation to speak at Chulalongkorn University, the post said.

Wong was due to meet Thai activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal at the airport. However, "According to Chotipatpaisal, the Thai authorities have received a letter from the Chinese government earlier regarding Wong's visit. His request to see Wong, who is still currently in custody, has also been declined", Wong's party's FB post elaborated.

"Demosistō strongly condemns the Thai government for unreasonably limiting Wong's freedom and right to entry, and requests the immediate release of Wong.

"In the meantime, we request the Hong Kong immigration department's assistance in assuring Wong's safety," the statement read.

Wong was invited to speak at an event to mark the 40th anniversary of the killing of pro-democracy students by Thailand's security forces in 1976. He was also expected to elaborate on his experiences during the 2014 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

On Tuesday, 4 October, Wong posted on Facebook that he was apprehensive about his trip to Bangkok. He said "We all know Thailand is not politically stable... It is also clear that it is close to the Chinese Communist Party."

Wong flew out of Hong Kong on Tuesday night and arrived in Bangkok just before midnight local time (6pm BST Monday).

Demosisto's President Nathan Law told Hong Kong Radio that he believed there was some connection between Wong's detention and Beijing.

Immigration officials at the Suvarnabhumi airport confirmed to Reuters news agency that the 19-year-old activist was stopped from entering Thailand and would be sent back to Hong Kong.

According to the Guardian, Wong will return to Hong Kong on 5 October. Another source cited by the publication said Wong was being held in custody at the airport.

In August, Wong was given 80 hours of community service by a Hong Kong court on charges of unlawful assembly for participating in a sit-in at the height of the pro-democracy protest in 2014.