The 59 year old man who invaded the Sha Tin track during the ongoing HK$40 million ($5.14 million) Hong Kong Cup on Sunday is released on bail.
A man who ran to the track during the richest horse race of Hong Kong to raise concern about the ill-systematic government practices and calling for the resignation of the government in power over a deadly fire has been released on bail.
The 59 year old man invaded the Sha Tin track during the ongoing HK$40 million ($5.14 million) Hong Kong Cup on Sunday. He was safeguarded by the racecourse staff from coming in between the track and colliding with the horses, which could have caused carnage.
He was holding a banner on which the words “the current committee”, “Wang Fuk Court”, and “(chief executive) Lee … (security chief) Chris Tang step down,” could be seen.
Hong Kong chief executive John Lee announced a judge-led “independent committee” to investigate the matter.
Video showed the man being tackled to the ground by staff in the middle of the home straight, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s official race starter.
About thousands of spectators were present to see the race. He was arrested on suspicion of “disordering public places”, Hong Kong police said, adding he had been released on bail pending further investigation.
Citizens should “express opinions peacefully … within the framework of national security, public safety and order,” a police statement said.
“You can see the emotions in the Hong Kong community are still very deep,” the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s chief executive officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told AFP.
He said the Jockey Club would now consider deploying security staff every 50 metres around the perimeter of the 1,900-metre grass track, which has a finishing straight of 430 metres for extensive security checks to reduce these disruptions.
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