Popstar and pro-democracy activist Denise Ho arrested in chilling Hong Kong raid

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Singer and pro-democracy activist Denise Ho was arrested alongside seven people in a raid by national security police in Hong Kong.

Ho, a Cantopop singer, was arrested in a raid of reporters linked to pro-democracy online media outlet Stand News, of which she is a former board member.

She was taken from her home by police on Wednesday (29 December) morning on charges of “conspiracy to publish seditious material”, CNN reported, and was released a day later.

Ho’s assistant said police spent over two hours in the star’s home and seized her phones, computers, ID card and passport before taking her to a police station.

Reuters reported over 200 police officers also raided the Stand News offices on Wednesday and froze its assets. Shortly afterwards, the publication announced it was closing and dismissed all of its employees.

Ho made headlines after she came out as gay publicly during a Pride Parade in Hong Kong in 2012. She was the first mainstream female singer in Hong Kong to come out as part of the LGBT+ community.

Ho has also been actively involved in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. She testified at the US Capitol about reports of police brutality during pro-democracy protests and previously served as a trustee on a humanitarian fund for arrested or injured protestors.

Ho, who is also a Canadian citizen, was released on bail on Thursday (30 December) and confirmed on Twitter that she had “returned home safely”.

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“Thank you friends for all your kind messages, I have been released on bail and have returned home safely,” she wrote.

Thank you friends for all your kind messages, I have been released on bail and have returned home safely.♥️