HONG KONG — Multiple pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have been assaulted or attacked for openly standing up against China, in what critics have dubbed as "White Terror." <br /><br />In September, Stanley Ho, a member of Hong Kong's Labor Party and a candidate in the upcoming local elections, was beaten by four unknown attackers with metal rods and sticks near a park in Sai Kung.<br /><br />His attackers fractured both of his hands and gave him a head wound, according to Hong Kong Free Press and AFP. He was hospitalized after being attacked.<br /><br />Civil Human Rights Front leader Jimmy Sham was attacked by at least four men with hammers while he was on his way to a meeting earlier this month, reports Hong Kong Free Press. Officials found Sham lying on the street and bleeding from his arms and head.<br /><br />Isaac Cheng, vice president of Hong Kong's pro-democracy Demosisto party, was beaten by assailants on his way home at night in September.<br /><br />In a Facebook post, the Demosisto party explained that the 19-year-old was attacked from behind by three men who punched him in the eyes. His glasses flew off his face as a result and Cheng was taken to the hospital for his injuries by party members.<br /><br />Jocelyn Chau was at her booth campaigning when a middle-aged man went up to Chau and tore up her election leaflet, Hong Kong Free Press reports. He was accompanied by a woman who encouraged him to go on. The man punched Chau in the head twice when she asked him to stop littering.<br /><br />The 23-year-old was taken to a hospital after feeling nauseous and dizzy.<br /><br />Another female candidate, Jannelle Leung, an accountant running for district council, was attacked by a man who hit her in the back of her head with an unknown object as she was waiting to cross the road.<br /><br />She didn't suffer any serious injuries from the attack.<br /><br />Hong Kong Democratic Party Lawmaker Roy Kwong was punched and kicked by three masked assailants as he tried to get into his car in late September.<br /><br />The masked assailants targeted Kwong's neck, the back of his head and his torso while Kwong was seen in a video lying on the ground, protecting his head and arms, as reported by the Hong Kong Free Press. Kwong called for an ambulance after the attackers ran away.<br /><br />Davin Wong, former student union leader of University of Hong Kong, was assaulted by a masked man wearing a white shirt as he waited for the bus at the end of August. Wong told DW News that the masked man used a cane to hit him on his neck and left shoulder. He said he believed the attack was planned.<br /><br />Fear and a lack of trust in the police have led at least some pro-democracy activists arranging their own protection. Hong Kong's police force has denied these allegations and said they pursue all crimes regardless of a person's political affiliation.<br /><br />Hong Kong's Labour Party lawmaker Fernando Cheung stated that the attacks are connected to triads and specifically target pro-democracy protesters, according to the Hong Kong Free Press.
