HK police arrests five in politician attack case

HONG KONG, Oct 13 (Reuters) Five people have been arrested in connection with a violent attack on a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker, police said today.

Four men and a woman were arrested for the attack on Albert Ho, vice chairman of the Democratic Party, who was clubbed by three men wielding baseball bats in a crowded downtown McDonald's restaurant in late August.

He suffered serious injuries including a broken nose and was in hospital for several days.

A police official said four of the suspects were arrested in Hong Kong and one in the southern Chinese city of Zhongshan.

They were aged between 27 and 57 years and all were Hong Kong residents. It was not clear when the five were arrested.

Ho, a prominent politician and lawyer known for his sense of social justice, said he was encouraged by the breakthrough.

''If the police can successfully solve this case ... it will send a message to the Hong Kong public that the police here have the ability to protect public order and public safety, and ensure Hong Kong's triads can't get away with beating up anyone they like,'' he said.

Ho has said the attack was likely related to his work as a lawyer on sensitive cases that might have offended Hong Kong's organised crime syndicates, called triads.

Police said they were unsure of the motive, but local television reports showed police leading one of the suspects, a muscular man wearing handcuffs and a black hood, to a pier in an attempt to collect evidence.

The brazen attack was widely condemned by officials and legislators, with commentators saying it had damaged Hong Kong's reputation as one of Asia's safest cities.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang also pledged to do whatever it took to find the suspects.

REUTERS SP RK1740