Police on Friday said they arrested 17 people for allegedly conspiring to verbally intimidate the candidates and scrutineers in an election to pick the representatives of a public housing estate. The votes, which took place last month, was to select residents to oversee the management of King Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O. Speaking at a press briefing, Chief Inspector Ho Kai-ho said officers made the arrests between December 18 and Friday. Ho added the suspects were aged between 25 and 77 years old. "Some of them have backgrounds related to triads, but it is not appropriate to disclose the exact number of suspects with triad backgrounds here. Among those arrested in this operation, some were candidates in this election," he said. Ho also said if convicted of conspiracy to criminally intimidate, offenders could face up to a five-year jail term.
